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Five species of lizards, Agama yemenensis, A. adramitana, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, C. calyptratus and Acanthodactylus baskinaus were trapped alive from Abha Province. Serological and parasitological examinations of blood revealed antibodies against toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis. Blood films showed Hepatozoon spp. The results were discussed with reference to their role as reservoir hosts.

Eimeria schmidti n.sp. is described from the gall bladder of Acanthodactylus schmidti from Al-Thomama area in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Sporulated oocysts are ellipsoid 31.2 x 23.3 (26.9-36.4 x 21.2-26.0). Oocyst wall is smooth, greenish yellow, 1.31 (1.16-1.41) um thick and two-layered. Micropyle, polar granule and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid 12.6 x 9.3 (10.9-14.1 x 7.6-10.0) um. Sporocyst residuum is present. The sporocysts lack a stieda body. Sporozoites are banana shaped blunt at one end and tapered at the second end. Eimeria species from Lacertidae are compared.

Eighty-two patients with snakebites were seen at King Fahad Hospital (KFH) in Al Baha during the period from 1983G to 1989G and were retrospectively reviewed. Most common symptoms were pain (80.5%) and swelling (77%). Hemostatic abnormalities were found in 36 patients (44%) and were usually present on admission but may be delayed up to 20 hours after snakebite. All of these patients had local swellings, 17 had low hemoglobin and 29 had leukocytosis, suggesting systemic envenomation. Five patients had local skin necrosis, and three had to have fasciotomy for compartment syndrome. All patients, except one death, responded to treatment (antivenin, plasma products, or both). These data emphasize that hemostatic abnormality is the major complication of snakebite in the Al Baha District of Saudi Arabia.

Cultured human fibroblasts were used to study the effect of a crude extract of Cerastes cerastes gasperetti venom on the activity of a profile of key enzymes of metabolism. A single concentration of the crude venom was incubated with confluent fibroblasts established from six normal subjects for a period of three hours. A dramatic reduction in the specific activities of glucose and glycogen degradative enzymes was observed (23.7 +/- 3.9%, 36.3 +/- 8.7% and 71.1 +/- 5.7% of control for citrate synthase, glucose-6-phosphate and phosphofructokinase respectively). Furthermore, the specific activity of creatine kinase was doubled. No significant change in activity of three transaminases was noticed. Incubation of the same concentration of venom for the same period of time with serum did not result in any change in the activity of the enzymes studied. It is suggested that the cells mobilize stored phosphocreatine for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to compensate for the reduced rate of sugar catabolism. Furthermore, it is hereby suggested that the effects noticed on the enzyme activities are not directed at the enzyme protein itself, but are of mediated nature.

Male and female Chalcides ocellatus were gonadectomized and cold acclimated at 15 degrees for 1 week. Lizards were injected with testosterone and estradiol, and their oxygen consumption was determined at 15 degrees. Testosterone and estradiol caused a significant increase in the whole body rate of oxygen consumption in male and female lizards, respectively.

The ocellated lizard, Chalcides ocellatus, and the common lizard, Lacerta vivipara, were acclimated to two temperature regimes (10 and 30 degrees C with 12L:12D photoperiod) for 2 weeks. The oxygen consumption rates were measured for both species at temperatures between 5 and 35 degrees C. Cold acclimation was observed in L. vivipara and was in the form of an upward translation of the metabolic rate-temperature curve in comparison to the warm-acclimated lizards (30 degrees C). Chalcides ocellatus showed a response to cold acclimation by decreasing its metabolism only at 10 degrees C.

Acutely administered thyroxine caused significant increase in the whole body rate of oxygen consumption of C. ocellatus at temperatures between 4 and 25 degrees C. No significant increase in the oxygen consumption was observed over the voluntary body temperature range of 30-40 degrees C.

Oxygen consumption rates of three desert lizard species: (Acanthodactylus boskianus, Lacertidae; Scincus mitranus, Scincidae; Diplometopon zarudnyi, Amphisbaenidae) were determined in relation to ambient temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 degrees C using a double-chamber, volumetric closed system. The interspecific differences in the oxygen consumption rates were found to have a close relationship between the characteristics of the M-T curves, the thermoregulatory behaviour and the ecology of the respective species. The M-T curves of the studied lizards were specifically modified and adjusted to their climatic region.