Hematology Flashcards
Where are the majority of RBCs produced?
Specialized cells in the bone marrow
Function of erythrocytes
RBCs; transport O2/CO2, important in H+ buffering
Function of leukocytes
WBCs; body defenses, phagocytosis and killing of microbes, cellular and humoral immunity
Function of platelets
primary function is hemostasis, also plays a role clotting, wound repair, and in inflammatory processes
What’s different about avian, reptilian and amphibian RBCs?
nucleated
PCV vs. Hematocrit
PCV- packed cell volume (% of RBCs vs. plasma)
Hematocrit- PCV from a machine
Composition of Plasma
92% water, 8% solids- nutrients, proteins, hormones and enzymes, electrolytes (minerals)
Functions of Plasma
transport of nutrients, transport of by-products and waste, transportation of cells, maintain homeostasis (pH, temperature, etc)
Nutrients include:
glucose, lipids, triglycerides, amino acids
Proteins include:
albumin and globulin
Buffy coat contains:
leukocytes and platelets
Difference in appearance when there is hemolysis, lipemia and icterus index
Hemolysis- reddish plasma
Lipemia- fatty, “creamy”, occurs if animal just ate
Icterus index- yellowness of plasma appearance
Neonate plasma protein concentration vs. adult concentration
Neonate- 4-6 g/dL
Adult- 6-8 g/dL
Albumin
single homogenous protein- small molecular weight, contains minimal carbs
transport functions- organic/inorganic substances,cations, metabolites, certain hormones, poorly soluble drugs, toxic substances
osmotic pressure
Specific Globulins
important ones: anti-thrombins, inhibits thrombin and certain other coagulation factors
Transferrin
beta globulin, 2 binding sites for iron; correlates with total iron binding capacity; iron transport throughout the body
Ferritin
iron-containing protein, primarily found inside cells
Fibrinogen
increases with inflammation (acute phase protein); present in plasma but not serum because it is used in the clotting process
Chylomicrons
syntehsized/secreted from intesting; transport exogenous cholesterol, fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins absorbed from digested food
VLDL
very low density lipoproteins; primarily synthesized by the liver, transport bulk of the endogenous triglycerides; hydrolyzed by lipases in tissues and residual VLDLs are transformed into LDLs
LDL
low density lipoproteins; metabolic products from hepatic processing of VLDL remnants; core rich in cholesteryl ester, accounts for majority of cholesterol circulating in the blood; major mechanism transporting cholesterol to peripheral tissues; not as common in animals
HDL
high density lipoproteins; most dense, precursors formed in the liver and complete molecules formed in plasma by addition of remnants from other lipoproteins; transport cholesterol from tissues back to the liver in a process termed reverse cholesterol. “good cholesterol”
Is a stroke related to cholesterol plaque common in animals (excluding non-human primates)?
NO
Average MCV
mean cell volume Chicken highest (115); dog (70); cat/horse (45); goat lowest (28)
Replacement time for cells
neutrophils recycle 10 hrs, platelets 10 days, RBCs 100 days
When looking for cancer what signs do you look for first?
Neutropenia-> low platelets-> anemia
When looking to see if anemia is regenerative, how long should you wait?
3-4 days; amount of time it takes for RBCs to start to regenerate
What can cause hypochromasia?
iron deficiency
What can be a reason for polychromasia anisocytosis?
regenerative anemia
Anisocytosis
cells of different size
Poikilocytosis
general term for presence of abnormally shaped erythrocytes; normal in goats and young cattle
Antithrombin III
inhibits several coagulation factors (thrombin, IXa, and Xa); requires GAGs to help bind up thrombin
Blood volumes as body weight
dogs 8-9%, cats 6-7%
Transferrin
the major Fe binding protein in plasma, responsible for Fe transport throughout the body, total iron-binding capacity of serum is a measure of serum; binds to Fe+3
Ferritin
found in lower concentrations in plasma than transferrin, primarily found inside macrophages, good indication of total body Fe
Know difference between VLDL, LDL, HDL1 and HDL2
fatty/large/least dense–> most protein/small size/most dense
VLDL->LDL->HDL1->HDL2
In mammals, where are RBCs and WBCs produced?
produced within the extravascular spaces of bone marrow
In birds, where are RBCs and WBCs produced?
WBCs- extravascular spaces of bone marrow
RBCs- occurs within the vascular sinus of bone marrow
Stem cells vs. Progenitor cells
stem cells are capable of self renewal
stem cells capable of forming many cell lines are multipotent
stem cells producing only one cell line are unipotent
progenitor cells can divide and differentiate by are NOT capable of self renewal
A series of diagnostic tests must be done on an 8.8 pound cat. A total of 40 mL of blood will be taken. This represents approximately _____% of the total blood volume of this animal.
8.8 lbs x 1 kg/2.2 lbs= 4 kg = 4000 g
4000 g=4000 mL
4000 mL x 0.07 (blood volume) = 280 mL
40/280= 1/7= 14.3%
Drepanocytes
fusiform or spinde-shaped cells; appearance is normal in some species (deer), merely reaction of the blood cell to outside oxygen
Echinocytes
common in pig blood; “crenated cells”; equal length spicules; large amounts can be indicative of disease states such as renal disease, lymphoma and snake envenomation, also chemotherapy or just after exercise in horses
Fragmentation morphologies
includes acanthocytes, keratocytes and schistocytes
Acanthocytes
seen in dogs with liver disease, indicative of hemangiosarcoma if liver values are normal, can also indicate DIC or glomerulonephritis
Keratocytes
seen in some animals with liver disorders, iron deficiency anemia; seen with other fragmentation morphology cells such as acanthocytes
Stomatocytes
often seen as artifact on thick blood smears; look like mouths
Basophilic stipling
Important: part of regenerative anemia, primarily in ruminants
Nucleated erythrocytes
generally metarubicytes; part of regenerative anemias; can also indicate marrow injury
Schistocytes
can be seen in animals with severe iron deficiency, liver disease, glomerulonephritis, and DIC; seen with other fragmentation morphologies of RBCs
Howell-Jolly Bodies (Micronuclei)
low numbers are normal in horses and cats do to spleen morphology; seen in increased numbers in regenerative anemias, animals with splenectomy, taking glucocorticoids, or dogs on chemotherapy
Heinz bodies
pale staining regions on outer rim of RBCs; shows oxidative damage to hemoglobin; most common in cats; seen in animals with diabetes, lymphoma and hyperthyroidism; increased numbers can be seen with onion/garlic ingestion, medication poisoning (acetominophen, methionine and phenazopyridine); large animal can be caused by copper toxicity (sheep/goats). red maple leaf consumption in horses/alpacas
Protozoal organisms
Babesia (dogs), Cytauxzoon(cats)
Rickettsial organisms
Anaplasma
Viral organisms
Distemper, can see distemper inclusions on well stained slides
Eccentrocytes
associated with Heinz bodies, further oxidant injury to the RBC, will be removed in the spleen; seen in same cases as animals with Heinz bodies
Cyanotic-appearing skin
hypoxemia; usually a result of methemoglobin where hemoglobin cannot bind to oxygen; oxygen cage does not help since the RBCs actually can not bind the oxygen, blood will appear dark “Hershey syrup blood”, use spot test to verify; caused by oxidation damage, same substances that increase Heinz bodies cause this
Clinical signs of Methemoglobin
cyanotic appearing skin
decreased exercise tolerance (80%)
Anemia of chronic inflammation
most common type of anemia seen clinically
occurs with chronic illnesses or infections, cancers or inflammatory disorders
body “hides iron”
erythroid cells are negatively regulated by cytokines that affect iron metabolism
Pro-inflammatory cytokines involved: TNF-alpha, IL1/6/10
