• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.305-316
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• 2009

Haemocyte characterization in the surf clam, Mectra veneriformis was carried out based on morphological, cytochemical, and phagocytic characteristics. The haemocytes were classified into two cell types, granulocytes and agranulocytes on the basis of presence of cytoplasmic granules. Granulocytes were then classified again into 2 types, large eosinophilic granulocytes and small eosinophilic granulocytes after staining with May-Grünwald Giemsa. In electron microscopy, both types of granulocytes contained electron-dense and electron-lucent cytoplasmic granules. Agranulocytes (hyalinocytes) were also divided into two cell types, large agranulocytes and small agranulocytes based on their sizes. Both cell types did not have granules in cytoplasm. Granulocyte and agranulocyte were negative for the enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase, peroxidase, and $\beta$-glucuronidase but positive for phenoloxidase and acid phosphatase activities. Both types of haemocytes have phagocytic activity, with the exception of small agranulocyte, and granulocytes seemed more active in this respect than agranulocytes. This present study is the first study to characterize haemocytes of M. veneriformis.