Haematology - Leukon

Question 1

How do you count wbc?

Answer 1

• Can be done manually or automatically
• A hemocytometer is used but rbc must be lysed first with tuerks solution. Remaining cells = wbc.
• Count in 4 primary squares/20 (x10^9/L) and get a total

Question 2

How do you get the absolute WBC difference?

Answer 2

-Multiply the WBCC by percentages of each leukocyte type to get the absolute count for each type.

Question 3

What is the neutrophil?

Answer 3

• First inflammatory cell to appear with infection
• Enzymes kill the bacteria they engulf
• Inc in neuts = neutrophilia, dec in neuts = neutropenia

Question 4

How are toxic neutrophils recognised?

Answer 4

By big dark granules in segmented neutrophils. It is usually due to the demand on the marrow to get the cells out quick to fight infection

Question 5

What is the lymphocyte? What are lymphoblasts?

Answer 5

• Mononuclear cell with dense blue nucleus (RBC in size)
• Looks a bit like an egg with large yolk
• Mild lymphopenia (reduction in cells) in stressed dogs
• Mature lymphocytes smaller than neutrophils
• Lymphoblasts are larger and with prominent nucleus or nucleolar rings, nucleolus is round to angular and pale blue

Question 6

What is the monocyte?

Answer 6

• Largest circulating cell
• Variable nuclear appearance, sometimes resembles shape of neutrophil
• Monocytosis with chronic inflammation in most species
• Monocytopenia is rare

Question 7

What is the eosinophil?

Answer 7

• Nucleus less segmented than neutrophil, its cytoplasm has orange/red granules
• Eosinophilia: parasitic infections/hypersensitivity
• Eosinopenia: stress, hyperadrenocorticism, steroid treatment

Question 8

What is the basophil?

Answer 8

• RARE in NORMAL blood
• Looks like a Bunch of granules
• Basophilia in conditions that also cause eosinophilia
• Recognised in dogs by ribbon like nucleus with reddish-blue granules, in cats granules are orange/pink