engleski

Differences in hematological values beetween insular and mainland Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) from the Adriatic coast

Background: The Italian wall lizard has been a subject of research due its rapid adaptation to a new habitat. In Croatia, 24 out of 52 recognized subspecies of this lizard are restricted to Adriatic coast and the great majority are local endemics of one or a few islets. Hematological differences between subspecies have not yet been investigated. Objective of the study was to evaluate hematological parameters of the two Italian wall lizards subspecies. Methods: Blood samples were taken from 20 male lizards, 10 from the mainland of the Adriatic coast (P. s. campestris) and 10 from the island Pijavica (P. s. adriatica) in the Adriatic sea. Complete blood cell counts and smear evaluations were performed. Results: There was no statistically significant differences in erythrocytes and total leukocytes counts as well as in PCV values between two groups of lizards. Insular lizards had significantly higher relative (32.5%) and absolute (1.02x103/µL) number of basophils comparing to the mainland lizards (14% and 0.47x103/µL, respectively). The mainland lizards had significantly higher relative number of monocytes (5.5%) and azurophils (20%) than the insular lizards, (2% and 12.5%, respectively). Hemogregarines spp were found in 7 out of 10 mainland lizards, while in the insular lizards we did not find Hemogregarines. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there are differences in hematological parameters between two different subspecies of Italian wall lizard. Further research needs to be done to determine which of intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the hemogram of this subspecies.

Podarcis siculus, Italian wall lizard, hematology, reptiles

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