equine clinical pathology Flashcards
What must we remember about anaemia in horses
Reticulocytes are not released into circulation in significant numbers so it is hard to tell whether an anaemia is regenerative or not (cannot use polychromasia)
What are markers of regeneartive anaemia in horses
Macrocytosis
Increased red cell distribution width; anisocytosis
Do not see hypochromasia as in other species
Serial rise in PCV without increase in protein
[definitive diagnosis needs bone marrow biopsy that shows >5% polychromatophils]
Categories of causes of haemolysis
IMHA
Oxidative damage e.g onions, maple leaves
Equine infectious anaemia
Babesia/theileria
–> These infections would only be seen in imported horses or those that received imported blood
What things can cause secondary IMHA
Infectious agents: clostridia, rhodococcus, strep equi
Neoplasia
Drugs e.g TMPS, penicillin
Categories of causes of non-regnerative anaemia
Primary bone marrow disorder
Anaemia of chornic inflammatory/neoplasitc disease
Anaemia of chronic liver disease
Chronic kidney disease
What primary bone marrow disorders can cause non-regnerative anaemia (inc toxicoses)
Toxins: phenylbutazone, chloramphenicol
Leukaemia
Myelofibrosis
How much of the red cell mass can the spleen store
50%
What equine blood groups have the most transfusion reactions
EAA and EAQ
(more common in TBs)
Why does endotoxaemia cause a neutropenia
By causing margination of neutrophils
Out of neutrophilia and monocytosis what is a more specific marker of inflammation
Monocytosis; because NOT associated with stress/steroids
What are the two acute phase proteins in horses
Serum amyloid A; specific; rises within 24 hrs
Fibrinogen; less specific, rises in 24-72hrs of inflammation
Markers of hepatocellular damage in horses and how do their locations within the cell influence what they tell us
SDH; found in cytoplasmm so released quickly after damage - peaks after 2 days then normalised
–> But rarely measured bceause too labile
AST = cytoplasmic and mitochondria; LESS SPECIFIC because also in muscles and RBCs
GLDH/GDH = mitochondrial location so increases wiht SEVERE cell injury
Markers of biliary cell injury/cholestasis and which is more sensitive
GGT; more sensitive
ALP
Markers of hepatic function in the horse and which is more sensitive
Bile acids; more sensitive
Bilirubin
What is uncongugated vs conjugated bilirubin
Unconjugated (indirect) = breakdown product of haemoglobin transported with albumin; going towards liver
Conjugated = product made soluble by liver and excreted in bile
When do we most commonly see hyperbilirubinaemia in horses and why
SEcondary to fasting/inappetence
Because get fatty acid mobilisation which interferes with uptake of bilirubin into hepatocytes