Erythrocyte Morphology

Question 1

Echinocytes

Answer 1

Numerous short spicules

Causes: Electrolyte imbalances, Non specific diseases, rattlesnake envenomation

Question 2

Important erythrocyte shapes

Answer 2

Spiculated RBC

Fragmented RBC (Schistocytes)

Spherocytes

Question 3

Basophilic stippling is normal in what species

Answer 3

Ruminants

Question 4

Erythroid maturation sequence:

Answer 4

Rubrioblast → Prorubriocyte → Rubricyte → Metarubricyte

Question 5

Cause of heinz body anemia in sheep

Answer 5

Copper Toxicity

Question 6

Red blood cel parasites of dogs and cats

Answer 6

Mycoplasma haemofelis

Cytauxzoon felis

Mycoplasma haemocanis

Babeisa canis and gibsoni

Mycoplasma wenyoni

Anaplasma marginale

Question 7

Causes of heinz body anemia in cats

Answer 7

Acetaminophen

Propylene Glycol

Lymphoma

Hyperthyroidism

Diabetes

Question 8

How do you differentiate Rouleaux and Agglutination

Answer 8

Add isotonic saline to a drop of blood - if dispersion occurs = rouleaux

Question 9

Leptocytes and Codocytes

Answer 9

Little diagnostic significance

Target cells / Bowl cells

Folded

Question 10

Heinz body anemia

Answer 10

Oxidatively denatured hemoglobin

Question 11

Causes of heinz body anemia in dogs

Answer 11

Cephalosporins

Question 12

When rouleaux is abnormal it suggests

Answer 12

Increased globulins

Question 13

Rouleaux formation is normal in what species

Answer 13

Horses

Question 14

Keratocyte

Answer 14

One or two quite long spicules, often formed by breaking open of “blisters”

Question 15

Polychromasia

Answer 15

blue color of young cells

Question 16

Basophilic Stippling

Answer 16

Abnormal aggregation of ribosomes, appear as small basophilic granules

Seen with regenerative anemia in cats/dogs

Large amounts consider lead poisoning

Question 17

Common structures in or on RBCs

Answer 17

Heinz Bodies

Basophilic Stippling

Nucleated RBCs and Howell Jolly Bodies

Parasites

Viral Inclusions

Question 18

Eccentrocytes

Answer 18

Shifting hemoglobin to one side of the cell, resulting in clear zone outlined by membrane

Cause: Oxidative damage (ingestion of onions)

Often seen in conjunction with heinz body formation

Question 19

Spherocytes

Answer 19

Erythrocytes that appear small and lack central pallor

Volume is normal

Cause: IMHA

Question 20

Schistocytes

Answer 20

Erythrocyte fragments

Causes: DIC, Vascular Tumors, Iron Deficiency Anemia

Question 21

Hypochromasia

Answer 21

less color, pale

Question 22

Agglutination suggests

Answer 22

Antibody attachement to the RBCS (IMHA)

Question 23

Causes of heinz body anemia in horses

Answer 23

Phenothiazine

Wilted Red Maple Leaves

Question 24

Stomatocytes

Answer 24

Mouth like clear area in the center of the RBC

Question 25

Types of spiculated RBCs

Answer 25

Acanthocytes

Echniocytes

Keratocytes

Question 26

Nucleated RBCs / Howell Jolly Bodies

Answer 26

Normally seen with regenerative anemias

Cause: non functioning spleens or splenectomy, increased corticosteroids

If significant consider lead poisoning

Question 27

Distemper can cause ____________ on the RBC

Answer 27

Viral Inclusions

Question 28

Acanthocytes

Answer 28

Few evenly distributed projections

Due to changes in lipid concentrations in RBC membrane

Liver disease, Hepatic Lipidosis, Hemangiosarcoma

Question 29

Cause of heinz body anemia in cattle

Answer 29

Kale

Onions

Question 30

Causes of heinz body anemia in all species

Answer 30

Onions

Garlic

Zinc Toxicity