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The natural infection of blood protozoa was surveyed in 53 Korean terrestrial snakes from June 1981 to April 1982. They were collected in 12 counties of 5 Provinces, and consisted of 10 Elaphe dione, 3 E. rufodorsata, 19 Natrix ligrina lateralis, 6 Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum and 15 Agkistrodon bromhoffi drevicaudus. Blood amear of each snake was made for one time, and Giemsa staining was undertaken. The liver was histologically processed to evaluate the tissue phase of any possible blood protozoa. The following results were obtained. 1. Out of 53 examined snakes, six(11.3%) revealed intraerythrocytic protozoa infections. they were found in Kangwha Gun, Kyunggi Do; Jecheon Gun and Youngdong Gun, Chungcheong Buk Do; Jangheung Gun, Jeonla Nam Do; and Hoengseong Gun, Kangwon Do repectively. 2. Out of detected intraerythrocytic protozoa, that from Natrix ligrina lateralis of Hoengseong Gun,Kangwon Do could not be identified. that protozoon was red- stained by Giemsa, 2-3㎛ in diameter and round or rhomboidal in shape. 3. Erythrocytic infections of haemogregarines were found in Dinodon rufozonatum rufozonatum, Elaphe dione, Natrix ligrina lateralis and Agkistrodon bromhoffi drevicaudus. Two different types of haemogregarines were detected in the blood of the examined Dinodon, whereas only one type, long and slender with pointed end, were found in the remaining infected snakes 4. In liver, tissue schizonts were not found either un unfected or in non-infected snakes.
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