Hematology

Question 1

Castration does what to hamster CBCs:

Answer 1

reduces the RBC count by 25-50%

Question 2

pseudohibernation does what to the hamster CBC:

Answer 2

Red cell mass increases because RBCs live longer

Question 3

Gerbil CBCs:

Answer 3

polychromasia and basophilic stippling are common
RBC lifespan v short (9-10 days)
gerbs <8 wks old have PCV ~50% of adults

Question 4

Guinea pig RBCs:

Answer 4

Bigger erythrocyte, lower cell count for same PCV
Unlike other rodents, no male vs female difference
Rouleaux is normal in guinea pigs (not common in other rodents)

Question 5

Rabbit RBCs:

Answer 5

Males vs females not different
High erythrocyte turnover so young cells commoner
nRBCs can be an indication of acute infection

Question 6

Ferret RBCs:

Answer 6

generally higher crits than a dog/cat. Inhalant anesthesia causes rapid decrease in PCV (sequestration)

Question 7

Anemia of chronic disease in rabbits: list some quick differentials

Answer 7

Pasteurella, pneumonia, pododermatitis, pyometra

And pDental pDisease

Question 8

Basophils in ECM:

Answer 8

very rarely seen at all in rats, mice, hams; can be up to 30% of rabbit leukocytes! Also, rabbits are really the only species discussed where heterophils predominate over lymphocytes. (ferrets are mixed/borderline)

Question 9

what type of WBC predominates in ratmice & hamgerb?

Answer 9

Lymphocytes, typically about 75% of the diff. all 4 species have neutrophils rather than heterophils

Question 10

what type of WBC predominates in guinea pigs?

Answer 10

Lymphocytes as well; heterophils are the main WBC.

Question 11

what is a Kurloff cell?

Answer 11

monocyte specific to cavies (GP & capybara) - single large cytoplasmic inclusion body, usually up to 304% of leukocytes. NK cells.

Question 12

general patterns in response to inflammation in the CBC?

Answer 12

for most species, leukocytosis is mild or absent - instead tend to go cytopenic and see some toxic or immature cells in the diff.

Question 13

Effects of anesthesia on the rabbit biochem profile?

Answer 13

halothane (and iso? not clear) can increase several. Ket/xyl and ket/diaz inc BUN & creat, ALT & AST up to 24h after injection! fentanyl/droperidol had no effect.

Question 14

Ratmice, hamgerb, chinch: which enzymes eval liver well?

Answer 14

ALT, AST, SDH - SDH the single best correlate to active liver lesions. Muscle injury will increase AST & slightly inc ALT.

Question 15

Guinea pig liver enzymes: which ones are accurate

Answer 15

NOT ALT. SDH single best; AST liver/muscle (use CK to r/o muscle)

Question 16

ALP in rodents: which organs

Answer 16

Muscle, intestine and bone baby. will increase postprandially in ratmice (intestinal).

Question 17

in rats, what does GGT tell you?

Answer 17

cholestasis or steroids

Question 18

Total protein estimates on a refractometer may be inaccurate under what conditions:

Answer 18

marked hyperglycemia (above 600 mg/dL); hyperlipidemia; or BUN over 273 mg/dL.

Question 19

How long would you have to fast a rat to avoid postprandial hyperlipidemia?

Answer 19

16 hours! JFC!

Question 20

Rabbit liver enzymes: which work why?

Answer 20

ALT is not liver specific though commonly used
SDH very liver specific though not always available
ALP includes bone isoforms so can be complicated
cholestasis markers include GGT, ALP & tbili

Question 21

how does rabbit BUN change over the course of the day?

Answer 21

highest in the late afternoon and evening. Potassium does the opposite. That’s just weird.

Question 22

Ferret liver enzymes: which work why?

Answer 22

ALT and SDH work well BUT SDH is also in erythrocytes so hemolysis will elevate it. AST + ALT often seen with hepatic lipidosis.
Ferrets do have a bone ALP.

Question 23

Where do ferrets excrete bilirubin?

Answer 23

I mean poop obviously, but also kidneys; they are very efficient at it and very rarely jaundiced (Tbili has to be > 6.3!!)

Question 24

in what ECM species does hemolysis probably not cause hyperkalemia?

Answer 24

Ferrets! Everybody else, if known, it does. Ferrets doesn’t seem to.