MORPHOMETRIC MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF Boa constrictor BLOOD CELLS RESCUED IN CAMPOS DOS GOYTACAZES, RJ

Abstract

Boa constrictor is a species often found in breeding grounds and zoos, in addition to being used as a pet animal. These animals are native to the new world, being found from Mexico to northern Argentina. The aim of the present work is to generate morphometric values of the cells that make up the blood tissue of individuals of the Boa constrictor species, identifying their average sizes, which are important in determining the state of these cells, being mainly useful for classifying anemias. Blood strains were performed with samples collected from four specimens attended at the Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Animais Selvagens (NEPAS), being two males and two females. The slides were stained using the fast panotic staining technique and observed under an optical microscope (100X, immersion). For morphometry, image capture was performed with the aid of a Canon digital camera attached to the microscope, and the measurement of the cells was done with the Zeiss® AxioVision Sample Images software. A total of 2007 blood cells were measured, being 590 erythrocytes, 365 heterophiles, 140 lymphocytes, 454 azurophils, 17 monocytes and 441 thrombocytes. It was found that erythrocytes and thrombocytes showed greater differences between their larger and smaller diameters, giving these cells an elliptical shape. The other cells evaluated showed similar proportions between the diameters, characterizing them as spherical shapes.