Ali Louei Monfared
A morphological and histometrical studies based on the histological characteristics of peripheral blood cells of desert horned viper (Cerastes gasperetti gasperetti) from southwestern Iran was performed. Blood smears were prepared immediately, air-dried and differential leukocytes count were done. Also, histometric measurements of the various blood cells were carried out. The characteristic shape of the desert horned viper erythrocytes was oval and enucleated. Overall, five types of the leucocytes include heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were observed in the peripheral blood smears. The results of the present study are useful for the scientists involved in snake conservation around the world, and emphasize the usefulness of the microscopic studies in viper conservation.
