The Side-striped palm-pit viper, Eyelash palm-pit viper, and Blotched palm-pit viper are three Bothriechis species that inhabit Costa Rica and cause snakebite accidents. Thus, specimens kept in captivity have been used to research their venom composition and toxic effects. The hematologic evaluation of captive individuals is an essential part of their health assessment. However, hematologic components like blood cell counts, morphologic features, and cytochemical staining properties of leukocytes have proven to be variable within snake species. Therefore, species-specific baseline data is necessary to adequately interpret hematologic data, which is currently unavailable for the Bothiechis species.

We will obtain blood samples from nine captive individuals (three from each species) and perform routine hematologic tests (i.e., hematocrit, total solids by refractometry, white blood cell count, and blood smear evaluation). We will provide a detailed description of the blood cell morphology to be used as a guide for evaluating and interpreting blood smears from these species during routine hematologic examination.

We will also perform eight cytochemical stains: alkaline phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, chloroacetate esterase, Luna, myeloperoxidase, periodic acid-Schiff, Sudan black B, and toluidine blue and describe the cytochemical reactions of each leukocyte. We expect these stains to help us further characterize and understand the cells of this species, for which nothing is currently known. We also intend this part of the study to provide baseline data so that cytochemistry can be used as an available tool to aid in the diagnosis of hematopoietic neoplasia in these snakes.

This study will provide hematologic baseline data for these species for use by veterinary and laboratory professionals involved in reptile medicine, conservation, and research. We intend it to be used towards establishing a base for the future development of reference intervals in these animals.