The Ratio of Leukocytes in Peripheral Blood and Immunocompetent Organs of Chars of the Genus Salvelinus (Salmonidae) in the Lake Kronotskoe Basin

Abstract

The cellular composition of leukocytes in the peripheral blood, head kidney and spleen was studied in individuals of three species of chars of the genus Salvelinus, white char S. albus, long–headed char S. kronocius and long-nosed char S. schmidti, as well as two forms, small-mouth and large-mouth chars living in Lake Kronotskoe. In the studied individuals, the proportion of lymphocytes of leukocytes in the peripheral blood was significant. The forms (species) of chars differed in the proportion of cell types, the size of leukocytes, as well as the intensity of leukopoiesis. The most significant differences in the proportion of different forms of leukocytes were found in the large-mouth char compared to other species and small–mouth char: high content of lymphocytes in blood smears, low content of monocytes in all tissues and organs, blast forms in the blood and neutrophils in the pronephros.