A preliminary study of haemoparasites in marsh frogs, Pelophylax ridibundus (Ranidae) from Iran

Anurans are known to harbor different type of intra- and extracellular blood parasites. Apicomplexan parasites, order Coccidea as well as Kinetoplasteaare the most commonly reported blood parasites from frogs. The present study was conducted to survey haemogregarines and trypanosomes, two groups of haemoparasites in marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) from north of Iran. The frogs were captured and blood samples were obtained by insulin syringe. Blood smears stained by gimsa and were examined for the presence of haemoparasites. The microscopic diagnosis detected Hepatozoon magna as the only haemogregarines. Six morphological forms of Trypanosoma sp were observed as described in the literature, with slender to oval and broad forms. This is the first report on blood parasites of Pelophylax ridibundus in Iran.