RBC Morphology

Question 1

what morphology of RBCs looks like a ‘roll of coins’

Answer 1

rouleau

Question 2

what is the significance of seeing rouleau formation

Answer 2

seen with hyperglobulinemia and/ or hyperfibrinogenemia

Question 3

in what species is rouleau formation typically seen

Answer 3

horses

Question 4

what are the main causes of rouleau formation

Answer 4

inflammation
dehydration

Question 5

what is another name for normocytes

Answer 5

discocytes

Question 6

true or false:
discocytes are normal cells

Answer 6

true

Question 7

what are nucleated RBCs

Answer 7

rubricytes

Question 8

what is the reason for seeing rubricytosis

Answer 8

early or inappropriate release from hemic tissue

Question 9

in which type of anemia is it appropriate to see rubricytosis

Answer 9

regenerative – hypoxia and blood loss stimulate EPO

Question 10

in which type of anemia is rubricytosis inappropriate to see

Answer 10

non-regenerative or an animal without anemia

Question 11

if a dog is not anemic but there are rubricytes on cytology, what should be on your rule-out lists

Answer 11

marrow damage
lead poisoning
extramedullary hematopoiesis, splenic contraction, splenectomy

Question 12

what does an increase of EPO lead to

Answer 12

appropriate release of nucleated RBC / rubricytes

Question 13

in what species is central pallor of RBCs often commonly seen

Answer 13

dogs

Question 14

in what cases would you expect to see increased palor in a dog’s RBCs

Answer 14

hypochromasia / decreased MCHC

Question 15

what cell type will appear with no central pallor on a dog cytology

Answer 15

spherocytes

Question 16

what are the classic signs for hypochromic erythrocytes

Answer 16

Fe deficiency
low MCV
low MCHC
low MCH

Question 17

what cause the formation of hypochromic erythrocytes

Answer 17

defective Hgb synthesis

Question 18

when is it common to see polychromatophilic erythrocytes

Answer 18

regenerative anemias due to accelerated erythropoiesis

Question 19

what type of cell forms due to incomplete maturation or skipped cell division

Answer 19

macrocyte

Question 20

what is the significance of macrocytosis

Answer 20

increased erythropoiesis leading to release of larger immature cells

Question 21

what dog breed tends to have macrocytosis as a commonality in the presence of anemia

Answer 21

poodles
poodle dyscrasia

Question 22

what cell formation is commonly seen because of increased cell divisions during developement

Answer 22

microcytes

Question 23

what is the significance of seeing microcytes (causes)

Answer 23

Fe deficiency / blood loss
hepatic insufficiency (portosystemic shunts)
breed variations

Question 24

what is the name for cells that are variable and irregular in shape

Answer 24

poikilocytes

Question 25

what cell type has regularly spaced membrane projections and often called a burr cell or crenated erythrocyte

Answer 25

echinocyte

Question 26

what can cause the formation of an echinocyte

Answer 26

membrane changes due to pH changes

Question 27

how could an echinocyte form on a slide

Answer 27

drying artifact

Question 28

which cell type has 1-20 irregularly spaced membrane projections with the main core of the cell still in a spheriod formation

Answer 28

acanthocyte

Question 29

what is the significance of having acanthocytes on a cytology

Answer 29

canine hemangiosarcoma hepatic & renal disorders abnormal lipid content

Question 30

how do acanthocytes form

Answer 30

RBC trauma or excess membrane lipid

Question 31

what type of cell has central pallor focus of Hgb surrounded by a ring of pallor creating a hat-like effect

Answer 31

codocyte

Question 32

how do codocytes form

Answer 32

excess membrane relative to amount of Hgb

Question 33

what is the significance of codocytosis

Answer 33

regenerative anemias with Fe deficiency and liver diseases

Question 34

if there is a widespread presence of codocytosis, what is often times the issue

Answer 34

liver disease

Question 35

which cell type is spheroid, round and globoid in shape

Answer 35

spherocyte

Question 36

which cell type is spheroid, round and globoid in shape

Answer 36

spherocyte

Question 37

what are some defining characteristics of spheroid cells

Answer 37

decreased diameter and lacks central pallor

Question 38

how are spherocytes formed

Answer 38

removal of membrane or defective membrane

Question 39

what are some ways in which spherocytosis is triggered

Answer 39

immune-mediated fragmentation hereditary

Question 40

what organ is often times associated with spherocytosis

Answer 40

spleen

Question 41

what type of cell is a triangular, comma shaped or round RBC fragment

Answer 41

schizocyte

Question 42

how do schizocytes form

Answer 42

intravascular RBC trauma

Question 43

what can cause schizocytes to appear

Answer 43

microangiopathy (intravascular coagulation / DIC or vasculitis)

Question 44

which cell type is a notched cell or cell with 1 or 2 horn-like projections

Answer 44

keratocyte

Question 45

how do keratocytes form

Answer 45

intravascular RBC trauma

Question 46

what 2 types of abnormal erythrocyte shapes can present with DIC

Answer 46

keratocytes and schizocyte

Question 47

which type of cell is acquired

Answer 47

elliptocytosis

Question 48

when is it common to see ellipotcytosis

Answer 48

myelofibrosis Fe deficiency anemia hepatic lipidosis

Question 49

in what type of animals is it common to see elliptocytes

Answer 49

camelids

Question 50

what type of cell forms due to oxidative damage to RBC membrane and Hgb forming a hemi-ghost cell

Answer 50

eccentrocyte

Question 51

what is the significance of eccentrocytosis

Answer 51

overwhelming exposure to oxidants

Question 52

what type of cell is spheroidal with condensed Hbg

Answer 52

pyknocyte

Question 53

why would you see a pyknocyte on a cytology

Answer 53

overwhelming exposure to oxidants

Question 54

what 2 cell types would you see with exposure to overwhelming oxidants

Answer 54

eccentrocytes and pyknocytes

Question 55

what cellular inclusion forms due to oxidation of Hbg and oxidants

Answer 55

heinz bodies

Question 56

which type of cellular inclusion is the nuclear remnant left behind after mitosis of nRBCs

Answer 56

Howell-Jolly bodies

Question 57

what is the significance of finding Howell-Jolly bodies

Answer 57

increased erythropoiesis decreased spleen function common in cats

Question 58

what cellular inclusion can form due to ribosomal RNA not being degraded

Answer 58

basophilic stippling

Question 59

what are 2 things can cause basophilic stippling

Answer 59

regenerative anemia canine lead poisoning

Question 60

when is it common to find most of these cell abnormalities

Answer 60

in the presence of anemias

Question 61

true or false: once erythroid hyperplasia establishes, degree of RBC changes will diminish

Answer 61

true

Question 62

how do you tell the difference between Howell-Jolly bodies and Anaplasma marginale

Answer 62

marginal bodies will appear in the first few days of anemia and remain in the marginal border of the cell

Question 63

what type of parasite will cause signet rings within a cell

Answer 63

cytauxzoon felis

Question 64

which erythrocyte parasite will appear as a comma in a horse cell

Answer 64

theileria

Question 65

what is the shape of theileria in cow

Answer 65

chains

Question 66

which erythrocyte parasite will grow on the cell

Answer 66

mycoplasma haemocanis