Sixteen healthy native dogs aged about 2 years with average body weight of 22.5±1.5 kg of both sexes were selected for this study. Dogs were divided randomly into four groups (4 dogs/group). Clinical signs were recorded and blood samples were collected for laboratory examination before injection of venom. The control group was injected with 1ml of saline solution and the groups 2-4 respectively received 0.1,0.5 and 1mg/kg of the venom powder of VIPERA LEBETINA dissolved in 1ml saline solution, injected into the hind limb (biceps femoris) of each dog. Clinical signs were recorded and blood samples were collected at different time (10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes and 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours) after injection of venom examined for sedimentation rate, WBC count, number of neutrophils, RBC and platelet count, HCT, Hb concentration, MCV, MCH, MCHC, bleeding and clotting time, PT and PTT. The results were analyzed statistically.Results indicated that the main clinical signs were pain, pawing, weakness, whimpering, leash chewing, subcutaneous hemorrhage, hypotension and death in dogs in high doses. Heart and respiratory rate and body temperature in dogs of groups 2, 3 and 4 increased after injection of snake venom (P<0.05) which could be related to pain, stress and tissue damage at the site of venom injection. This resulted in an increase in body temperature due to release of pyrogenic substances especially in dogs of group 4. Number of white blood cells (WBC) decreased significantly (P<0.05) which could be related to stress and accumulation of white blood cells in the foci of exogenic factor and consumption of WBC and tissues damage. Comparison of means of platelets, indicated a significant difference in dogs of the group 3 (P<0.05). Primary decrease in the platelets of dogs is due to consumption of platelets in blood circulation at the site of venom injection and hemorrhage then increased due to body replacement. A significant increase (P<0.05) in coagulation, prothrombin and partial thromoplastin time in dogs of groups 3 and 4 was observed. This increase could be related to anticoagulant factor of the venom of this snake, which showed its effects in high doses. It is concluded that in addition to clinical signs and hematological changes, coagulopathy and hemolysis in high doses of VIPERA LEBETINA venom were the main effects on hematological parameters in this respect.

Background: Poisoning due to the bites and stings of venomous snakes and scorpions is a neglected public health problem, particularly in rural areas. Poor health facilities and inadequate knowledge of health care personnel are the major factors that result in envenomated human victims not receiving adequate care and medical attention. There is a great need for up-to-date and effective healthcare knowledge and awareness of the potency and lethality of venomous creatures in Iran. Assessment of the potency, acute toxicity, and lethal effects of venomous creatures come from a variety of specific tests, such as the 50% median lethal dose (LD50) and ample animal experimentations. Methods: In the present study, using modified Reed-Muench method, the LD0, LD50, and LD100 values of the venoms from five Iranian vipers and one scorpion were determined. The studied venomous creatures were: MacroVIPERA LEBETINA, VIPERA albicornuta, VIPERA raddei, Caucasicus intemedius agkistrodon, MontiVIPERA latifii, and one scorpion Hemiscorpius lepturus. The venoms were injected in Albino mice (n=204) intraperitoneally, and their toxicities determined. Results: The results revealed that the LD50 values of the above-mentioned creatures were 3. 87, 2. 05, 1. 63, 1. 45, 0. 84, and 6. 33 mg/kg, respectively. Among the vipers, M. latifii had the most potent venom while M. LEBETINA’, s venom had the lowest toxicity. Conclusion: Theoretically, the determined LD50 values provide for objective comparisons of the toxicity among of the venoms. However, comparison becomes complicated due to variations in the venoms’,LD50. Further, based on the venoms’,toxicity levels, H. lepturus’,venom caused the lowest toxicity in the Albino mice.

Inroduction & Objective: According to need to preserve the native breed snakes, in order to use humanitarian and environmental terms, In 2008, the environmental protection in vulnerable categories of the Red List Department of Environment (IUCN) (14),and serpents Zanjani is required for the survival of the species reproductive parameters noted.Material and Methods: For this purpose to study the reproductive parameters of Zanjani viper(Iran), microscopic and macroscopic level: Check the male reproductive tract, sperm vas channel concentration, motility and morphology, weight, testicular volume, the evaluation of spermatogenic cells in the tubules and measuring weight and body length, tail length is studied. Viper Zanjani ring of 11 males in the winter of 2011 Bostanabad area in East Azerbaijan, which is mountainous and cold climate, samples were taken.Results: The results showed that the mean maximum body weight of 248.33 ± 32.81 g, body length 76.41 ± 4.12 cm in February, tail length 4.87 ± 0.62 inches in February and maximum size of the right testis 666.13 ± 110.58 cubic millimeter of the Month for February and left 667.52 ± 189.08 cubic millimeter was seen in March. The highest average length of the left and right channels, respectively, 19.5 and 16.66 ± 2.54 cm was corresponding to the months of January and February. Maximum average sperm concentration in February 15´104/ml, morphology January %88.61±12.18 normal sperm motility and the highest 33.79 ± 22.91 of March the motility of the proximal to the distal face was increased.Conclusion: According to the findings viper Zanjani male reproductive tract morphology, including three in the proximal, median and distal to the That looks like a pit viper, Crotalus durissus terrificus species of the temperate zone of south-eastern Brazil is and the rate of sperm production in the months of February and March may be due to the mating stage (autumn) is.

Sperm quality evalution is a valuable tool to study the reproduction potential of male animals and is important for breeding and preservation of medical species. In this study, 66 Zanjani male snakes were collected from two mountainous and cold habitats, Bostanabad in eastern Azarbaijan and Tarom of Zanjan Province of Iran, in year 2011 to 2012. Morphological characteristics of animals, including body weight, body length from snout to vent, specifications of vas deferen duct and sperm parameters including: concentration, motility, viability of sperm and also the presence and absence of ductal sperm were examined. Results show the morphology of vas deferens in Zanjani viper consists of three parts: proximal, median and distal. The longest values of vas deferen (right and left) lengths in Bostanabad viper was observed in the autumn and the shortest lengths in the spring, whereas these values for Tarom snakes were opposite. The highest mean percentage of sperm concentration in Bostanabad samples was observed in the spring and in Tarom samples was in the autumn. According to the results we can recommend concentration of mature sperms with suitable reproductive parameter are highest in the vas deferen in May, October and November and sperms with highest motility are present in the distal part of the duct in the spring and autumn, and it seems animal is ready for mating.

Phospholipas A2 (ph A2) which is present in the venom of many snakes ego elapids, viperids, crotalids, seasnakes and even cloubrids, hydrolyses phospholipids in cell membrane and consequently lyses the red blood cells. The aim of this study is to find a rapid, sensitive and useful method to determine the activity of this enzyme in venom.The procedure is to take 0.1 ml of each venom (stock cone. 100 mg/ ml) and add it to suspension of egg yolk. After the incubation, the suspension was read in a spectrophotometer model U V- 160 A shimadzu (Japan) at 925 nm against Nacl as blank. The difference between blank absorbance and venom absorbance was calculated as enzyme activity. The results of above experiments showed the following activites, Naja naja oxiana 525, VIPERA LEBETINA 438, VIPERA albicornuta 712, Pseudocerastes persicus 750, Echis carinatus 730, Aghistrodon halys 470 (U/mg). Our results showed the highest activity was belonging to P. persicus and the lowest belong to V.LEBETINA, the comparison of the enzyme activity in Iranian venoms with foreign venoms showed higher activity for Iranian venoms.

During the spring of 1995 to spring of 1998, the fauna of snakes and scorpions of Yazd province were studied. The results of the study showed that 2 species of scorpion belonging to Buthidae family are present at the area of study. Out of 400 captured scorpions, 73% belonged to Androctonus crassicauda and 23% to Mesobuthus eupeus. Out of 125 collected snakes, the species were identified and among them Psammophis schokari was more abundant with the frequency of 24% and VIPERA lebetna with lowest frequency of 0.8%. Non poisonous snakes have more frequency (46.4%) than accidental poisonous (38.4%) and poisonous snakes (15.2%).

Habitat is an important component of biodiversity conservation. Understanding the habitat characteristics to achieve conservation programs is inevitable. The present study was carried out with an aim to identifying microhabitat ecological factors effecting habitat use of Iranian Mountain Steppe Viper (VIPERA ebneri) in Alborz Mountains. Sampling was carried out during spring and summer in 2012-2013. Ecological variables were measured in 31 presence and 33 absence plots of 12 ´ 12 m. Results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that hillsides with dense vegetation cover and decimetric stones at the appropriate distance from water sources, are the most important variables in habitat suitability of Iranian Mountain Steppe Viper in the area. The results of this study can fascilitate effective conservation of the remainig populations of Iranian Mountain Steppe Viper through determining factors limiting the distribution of this species as well as identifying and protecting its critical habitats.

The venom of Naja naja oxiana, VIPERA LEBETINA, VIPERA albicornouta, Echis carinatus, Pseadocerastus persicus and Agkistrodon halyssnakes are used to determine the potency of the polyvalent sera in neutralizing the venom. LD50 value per mouse was determined 6.5 mg. Neutralizations methods for obtaining potency of anti venom are competitive ELISA (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and in vivo assay (ED50). Both of these tests were performed to estimate the serum potency in 15 samples of hyper-immune equines. Results of competitive ELISA showed that 1.12000 diluted serum can inhibits 50 percent of antigens. Competitive ELISA was compared with current biological assay ED50. Significant correlations between ELISA titers and values of ED50 at level of P£0.01 and r=0.95 was observed, that indicates competitive ELISA can estimate antibody neutralizing capacity of the serum as well as the in vivo assay.The results of present study shows C-ELISA that measures Ag-Ab complex can used as a suitable replacement method for lethal neutralizing in vivo method.

Background: Envenomation by MacroVIPERA LEBETINA (M. LEBETINA) is characterized by prominent local tissue damage, hemorrhage, abnormalities in the blood coagulation system, necrosis, and edema. However, the main cause of death after a bite by M. LEBETINA has been attributed to acute renal failure (ARF). It is unclear whether the venom components have a direct or indirect action in causing ARF. To investigate this point, we looked at the in vitro effect of M. LEBETINA crude venom, using cultured human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) mono layers as a model.Methods: The effect of M. LEBETINA snake venom on HEK-293 growth inhibition was determined by the MTT assay and the neutral red uptake assay. The integrity of the cell membrane through LDH release was measured with the Cytotoxicity Detection Kit. Morphological changes in HEK-293 cells were also evaluated using an inverted microscope.Results: In the MTT assay, crude venom showed a significant cytotoxic effect on HEK-293 cells at 24 hours of exposure and was confirmed by the neutral red assay. Also, at 24 hours exposure, crude venom caused a non-significant increase in LDH activity of the culture medium at concentrations above 20 mg/ml. Various morphological abnormalities were observed in cells exposed to the venom and showed loss of their common polygonal shape, appearing as several roughly rounded cells of variable size. The M. LEBETINA crude venom induced detachment of cells from the plate.Conclusion: Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the Iranian snake M. LEBETINA venom causes a cytotoxic effect on kidney tissue not by necrotic mechanism but rather by secondary effects, including hypotension, hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which may lead to ARF.