Background Due to the resistance of some pathogenic micro-drawn researchers' attention to the use of antibacterial drugs developed from natural sources, especially venomous animals such as snakes. In this study, for the first time, the antibacterial effects and cytotoxicity of Zanjani snake venom (VIPERA organisms to common antibiotics, treatment of microbial infections has become significantly more difficult. This has albicornuta) were investigated in vitro. Methods In this in vitro experimental study, the antibacterial effect of different concentrations of Zanjani snake venom on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis was investigated using MTT assay, MIC assay, disk diffusion and well methods. In order to evaluate the cytotoxicity of crude toxin, HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400 μ g / ml of crude toxin for 24 hours. Survival percentage was determined using MTT reduction and Neutral red uptake methods and cell death was determined by Comet Assay method. Results According to the results, crude toxin has no antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli but has a significant antibacterial effect on Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The results also showed that Zanjani snake venom at doses of 50 to 400 μ g / ml induces cell death by inducing apoptosis and necrosis. Conclusion In this study, we showed for the first time that Zanjani snake venom has antibacterial and cytotoxic effects and can be used for further studies.

Background - The aim of present study was to investigate a possible link between the creatine kinase (CK) content in the V. xanthia raddei venom and its acute toxicity values. Methods - Creatine kinase, the ATP-generating enzyme belonging to a phosphotransferases family, has been completely purified from the venom of VIPERA xanthia raddei using a novel method of affinity chromatography on ADP-Sepharose. Results - This enzyme is proven to be a compound for determining an acute toxicity degree provided by the intramuscular (IM) venom injection to mice. Not being a toxic agent itself, this 40 kDa monomer protein, however, increases the toxicity level when added to a natural total or creatine kinase-depleted venom composition. Conclusion - A possible significance of the data presented for research on a snake bite promoted coagulopathies is under discussion.

Ilam Province in southwest Iran possesses varied climatic and geographical conditions leading to rich biodiversity. An investigating of the status of snakes in the province was carried out from June 2005 to March 2010. A total of 103 specimens were collected and identified. Six families, 20 genera, and 26 species are represented, including Boidae: Eryx (Eryx) jaculus turcicus, Colubridae: Coluber andreanus, Dolichophis jugularis, Eirenis collaris, Eirenis punctatolineatus, Hemorrhois nummifer, Hemorrhois ravergieri, Malpolon insignitus, Malpolon moilensis, Natrix tessellata, Platyceps najadum, Platyceps rhodorachis, Psammophis schokari, Pseudocyclophis Persicus, Spalerosophis diadema, Spalerosophis microlepis, Telescopus tessellatus, Elapidae: Walterinnesia morgani, Leptotyphlopidae: Myriopholis macrorhyncha, Viperidae: Cerastes gasperettii, MacroVIPERA LEBETINA, Pseudocerastes persicus, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, and Typhlopidae: Typhlops vermicularis. With respect to the data which provided by Latifi (2000), more than 77% of the snakes are reported for the first time in this region. The Colubridae showed the highest species diversity among the families represented, with 16 species.

Kiasar National Park is a mountainous region in central Alborz located in Kiasar region, 70 kilometers far from Sari city in Mazandaran province. The mean annual rainfall is 650 mm and the mean annual temperature is 12°C. This study was done in order to the identification of amphibians and reptiles of Kiasar National Park. More than 200 specimens were collected during spring and summer of 2011. Twenty five identified species belonged to 5 orders, 14 families and 22 genera including: Triturus karelini, Bufo (Pseudepidalea) viridis, Hyla savignyi, Rana (Pelophylax) ridibunda ridibunda, Rana macrocnemis pseudodalmatina, Typhlops vermicularis, Elaphe dione dione, Zamenis persica, Natrix natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata tessellata, Dolichophis Jugularis, Platyceps najadum najadum, Hemorrhois ravergier, Gloydius halys caucasicus, MacroVIPERA LEBETINA obtusa, Laudakia caucasia caucasia, Anguis fragilis colchicus, Pseudopus apodus apodus, Cyrtopodion naspium caspium, Darevskia chlorogaster, Darevskia defilippii, Lacerta strigata, Ablepharus pannonicus, Emys orbicularis persica and Mauremys caspica caspica.

Parvar Protected Aera is located in the north-eastern of Semnan County in Semnan province of Iran. This area has the rich fauna and flora because of the various climates. This study was done in order to the identification of snakes' fauna in Parvar Protected Area from April to September 2013. Sampling was performed from morning to night in different parts of the Parvar Protected Area. Specimens were transferred to the Laboratory and metric and meristic characters were evaluated after identification. Totally, 25 specimens were collected in Parvar Protected Area and 10 species were identified belonging to seven genera and Colubridae and Viperidae families including: Dolichophis schmiditi, Platyceps najadum najadum, Platyceps ventromacalatus ventrimaculatus, Platyceps karelini karelini, Elaphe dione dione, Hemorrhois ravergieri, Natrix tessellata tessellata, Natrix natrix natrix, MacroVIPERA LEBETINA obtusa and Gloydius halys caucasicus. Elaphe dione dione has the highest frequency and Platyceps karelini karenini has the lowest frequency in this area.

Background: Information on the epidemiology of venomous snake species responsible for envenomation to humans in Iran has not been well documented. In the Kashan city, venomous snakebite remains a recurring medical problem. Information providing the correct identification of snake species responsible for envenomation in this geographic region would be useful to regional medical clinics and personnel for the effective and optimal management of the patients.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patient data was collected from Kashan city and its suburbs. The specific data relating to the taxonomic identification of snakes responsible for envenomation were evaluated. A general approach to the diagnosis and management of patients was also provided. Snakes responsible for bites were transported to a laboratory, where their taxonomic classification was confirmed based on key anatomical features and morphological characteristics.Results: A total of 46 snakes were examined. Of these, 37 (80%) were non-venomous species, and 9 (20%) were identified as venomous. Seven of the nine venomous snake species (78%) were of the family Viperidae, and two specimens (22%) were in the family Colubridae. Specifically, the viperid species were MacroVIPERA LEBETINA obtusa, Pseudocerastes persicus, Pseudocerastes fieldi, and Echis carinatus. The two colubrid species were Malpolon monspessulanus insignitus and Psammophis schkari.Conclusion: Five different species of venomous snakes responsible for envenomation in the Kashan city region were confirmed. The viper, P. fieldi, was reported for the first time in the central part of Iran.

Background: Snake bites are one of the significant health problems in the tropical and subtropical regions. Snake bite is a common medical emergency in Iran, and the epidemiological features and management of such cases vary from region to region.Objectives: This present research study was conducted to obtain new information about the epidemiology of snake bites in the region of Kashan, located in the central part of Iran.Patients and Methods: This research was a descriptive retrospective study. Data from 2004 to 2011 of snakebite cases were collected from case reports. Information included, age and sex of the victim, district, month of incident, mortality, and time of bite.Results: The results of this study showed that the majority of snake bite patients were male (96%). The age distribution of patients indicated that the greatest rate of snake bites occurred among the 15-24 year old group. Data collected in this study revealed that the highest incidence of snake bite cases took place in summer (60%) and the lowest number occurred in winter, with no snake bite cases being recorded. The peak number of snakebite cases was seen during June-September.Conclusions: It was concluded that snake bite cases in Kashan are similar to other areas in Iran from an epidemiological point of view, including, age distribution rates, gender and site of the bites. The existence of Macrov ipera LEBETINA, a dangerous venomous snake, can cause a range of clinical effects among residents in central parts of Iran, such as Kashan area.

As a major threat to biodiversity، habitat fragmentation has increased the local extinction of species due to a function of inbreeding and demographic stochastic factors. Creating or maintaining of corridors among core areas of protected areas decreases the negative impacts of fragmented habitat. This study attempts to prioritize wildlife linkage areas among current protected areas of East Azerbaijan based on the biological importance and threat-opportunity. The prioritization process was done through assembling stakeholders’ opinions. Then، for the highest priority linkage، the focal species that are sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation were determined based on the ideas of environmental officials. The distribution maps of focal species (Persian leopard، lynx، ibex، wild sheep، and two reptile species) were modeled based on four different modelling techniques: GLM، MARS، MaxEnt، and RF using species presences. Although all of the individual models showed good overall prediction accuracy for Persian leopard and ibex; MaxEnt and RF models indicated a good discrimination ability for wild sheep and only RF for lynx. However، no models had good prediction accuracy for reptiles (Coluber and VIPERA; AUC < 0. 7). Models with good discriminate accuracy are finally summarized in an ensemble forecasting approach to estimate the distribution of suitable habitats for the species of interest. To identify potential routes among the protected areas، GIS methods we used (CorridorDesigner package) to identify a biologically best corridor for each focal species to move among these protected blocks. The findings of the present study indicated that making corridors among Marakan-Kiamaky protected areas is the first priority that is followed by identification of corridors between Dizmar-Kiamaky linkage. The delineated corridors for the highest priority linkage were consistent with field observations of Tabriz environmental officials from animal movements gathered for several years.

Objective: Zanjani viper (VIPERA albicornuta) is an endemic venomous snake in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran which is medically important due to its application for antivenin production in the laboratory. We need to produce this snake in captivity. This study was conducted to characterize mature male Zanjani viper and to evaluate its sperm reproductive parameters.Materials and Methods: This applied- descriptive study was conducted on twenty Zanjani viper samples collected from Ag Dag Mountain in East Azarbaijan Province, Iran, between September and October 2010. After the snakes were anesthetized and sacrificed humanly, their morphometric specifications and sperm reproductive parameters, including concentration, motility, vitality, morphology, and survival time, were measured.Results: Morphometric specifications and evaluation of sperms of the snake showed the following information: Zanjani male viper, body length of 73.65±4.35 cm, tail length of 5.465±0.48 cm, and mature snakes with testicular volumes of 0.61±0.81 ml (right) and of 0.46±0.17 ml (left). Our findings revealed average sperm concentration of 0.47±0.1´106 ml-1, motility of 49-55 %, vitality of 46.11±9.63 %, normal morphology of 61.71±5.3%, and survival time of 6±2 hours at the laboratory temperature. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t test for comparison of two values, and one-way ANOVA was applied where three values were compared.Conclusion: Results suggest that mature Zanjani male viper with mature sperms in its vas deferens is present in late summer and early autumn seasons in Bostanabad County, Iran.