author(s)
Hossein Javanbakht, Mozafar Sharifi

abstract
Prevalence and intensity of the intracellular Heamogregarine parasites (Haemogregarina stepanowi) was investigated in two species of freshwater turtles in Iran. Blood smears were collected from the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) and the Caspian pond turtle (Mauremys caspica), air dried and stained by Giemsa. Prevalence and mean intensity of parasitemia in turtles of each locality were between 75-100% and 0.07-0.2 per 104 red blood cells respectively. The mean intensity of parasitemia in M. caspica was higher than E. orbicularis. There was no significant difference in prevalence and intensity of parasitemia between male and female in these two species of turtles (p>0.05). However, adults had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence and intensity than juveniles. Additional studies with more localities are needed to better understand the ecology and epidemiology of this parasite in turtles.