Adult rat snake blood sample and blood smear were received from Aringar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, Chennai. The haematological examination revealed haemoglobin (5 g/dL), packed cell volume (28%) and total erythrocyte count (7.8 millions/cmm). Differential leucocyte count revealed heterophil (62%), lymphocyte (33%), monocyte (3%) and eosinophil (2%). Leishman-Giemsa stained (LG) blood smear revealed the presence of intracytoplasmic sausage shaped gametocytes in the erythrocytes was confirmed as Hepatozoon sp. like infection. The haemogregarines found in snakes usually belong to the genus Hepatozoon. Hepatozoon sp. like infection occurred in the rat snake could be due to the ingestion of the vector or due to bite of any vectors.
Adult rat snake, Hepatozoon sp. like infection
