Erythrocyte Morphology Flashcards
Echinocytes
Numerous short spicules
Causes: Electrolyte imbalances, Non specific diseases, rattlesnake envenomation
Important erythrocyte shapes
Spiculated RBC
Fragmented RBC (Schistocytes)
Spherocytes
Basophilic stippling is normal in what species
Ruminants
Erythroid maturation sequence:
Rubrioblast → Prorubriocyte → Rubricyte → Metarubricyte
Cause of heinz body anemia in sheep
Copper Toxicity
Red blood cel parasites of dogs and cats
Mycoplasma haemofelis
Cytauxzoon felis
Mycoplasma haemocanis
Babeisa canis and gibsoni
Mycoplasma wenyoni
Anaplasma marginale
Causes of heinz body anemia in cats
Acetaminophen
Propylene Glycol
Lymphoma
Hyperthyroidism
Diabetes
How do you differentiate Rouleaux and Agglutination
Add isotonic saline to a drop of blood - if dispersion occurs = rouleaux
Leptocytes and Codocytes
Little diagnostic significance
Target cells / Bowl cells
Folded
Heinz body anemia
Oxidatively denatured hemoglobin
Causes of heinz body anemia in dogs
Cephalosporins
When rouleaux is abnormal it suggests
Increased globulins
Rouleaux formation is normal in what species
Horses
Keratocyte
One or two quite long spicules, often formed by breaking open of “blisters”
Polychromasia
blue color of young cells
Basophilic Stippling
Abnormal aggregation of ribosomes, appear as small basophilic granules
Seen with regenerative anemia in cats/dogs
Large amounts consider lead poisoning
Common structures in or on RBCs
Heinz Bodies
Basophilic Stippling
Nucleated RBCs and Howell Jolly Bodies
Parasites
Viral Inclusions
Eccentrocytes
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
Spherocytes
Erythrocytes that appear small and lack central pallor
Volume is normal
Cause: IMHA
Schistocytes
Erythrocyte fragments
Causes: DIC, Vascular Tumors, Iron Deficiency Anemia
Hypochromasia
less color, pale
Agglutination suggests
Antibody attachement to the RBCS (IMHA)
Causes of heinz body anemia in horses
Phenothiazine
Wilted Red Maple Leaves
Stomatocytes
Mouth like clear area in the center of the RBC
Types of spiculated RBCs
Acanthocytes
Echniocytes
Keratocytes
Nucleated RBCs / Howell Jolly Bodies
Normally seen with regenerative anemias
Cause: non functioning spleens or splenectomy, increased corticosteroids
If significant consider lead poisoning
Distemper can cause ____________ on the RBC
Viral Inclusions
Acanthocytes
Few evenly distributed projections
Due to changes in lipid concentrations in RBC membrane
Liver disease, Hepatic Lipidosis, Hemangiosarcoma
Cause of heinz body anemia in cattle
Kale
Onions
Causes of heinz body anemia in all species
Onions
Garlic
Zinc Toxicity
