Age differences in the leukocyte blood composition of the common viper Vipera berus (Reptilia: Serpentes: Viperidae)

The results of our comparative analysis parameters the leukocyte blood system underyearlings and mature specimens common viper Vipera berus are presented. material was 36 females 26 males caught in Middle Volga basin, 13 born captivity from 4 this sample. V. b. differed: by a lower content heterophils azurophils, an increased eosinophils basophils, increase shift index, decrease lymphocytic–granulocytic index heterophil–eosinophil ratio, lymphocyte–eosinophil ratio; reduced heterophils, ratio. In general, adaptive response indicated later activation lymphocytes as effector link imbalance immune due to lack resource immunocompetent cells (agranulocytes) compared with indices adults natural populations.