Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Clinical Pathology > Unit 8 > Flashcards

Unit 8 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the normal shapes of RBCs in varying species

A

Canine: biconcave disc with distinct central pallor

Feline: round with little or no central pallor

Avian, reptiles, and fish: nucleated RBCs

Camellidae: elliptical RBCs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How is RBC morphology reported

A

Cell arrangement
Cell size
Cell color
Cell shape
Structures in or on the cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is rouleaux

A

When the RBCs appear in linear stacks

This is NORMAL in horses

Cats and pigs may have slight rouleaux

In other species it is due to increased proteins

May be artifact due to storing for too long before a smear was made or refrigeration

Must be reported (exception: horses or if it is 3+ in cats)

Accompanied by an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (settles out faster because it is heavier)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is agglutination

A

Irregular spherical clumps of cells

May look like rouleaux in early stages -long thin extensions from cytoplasm

as it progresses with will take on a muddy brown color and melted appearance

Occurs due to a reaction between antibodies and antigens present in RBCs surface causing them to stick together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How can you differentiate rouleaux from agglutination

A

Mix the blood with 50:50 ratio of warm isotonic saline

Make a smear

If the formation disappears it was rouleaux (due to proteins) if it does not it is agglutination (will not break apart due to antibodies)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Normocytic

A

Cells of normal size

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Macrocytic

A

Cells larger than normal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Microcytic

A

Cells smaller than normal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Anisocytosis

A

Variation in size (common in cattle and rats)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Macrocytic erythrocytes

A

Generally twice the normal size
(In dogs they only need to be slightly bigger to be classified as macrocytic)

These have increased MCV

Normal in miniature poodles

These are normally reticulocytes (immature)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Microcytic erythrocytes

A

Smaller than normal

Accompanied by hypochromasia (less color)

MCV will be decreased

Common reason: iron deficiency or chronic bleeding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Normochromic

A

No abnormalities in color

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Polychromasia/reticulocytes

A

Polychromasia: darker in color than normal

With wright’s stain they appear macrocytic and blue tinged -these are immature RBCs -blue staining is due to organelles being present

Usually accompanied by an increased number of nucleated RBCs, hypersegmentation, howel jolly bodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

True or false
You don’t see reticulocytes with horses

A

TRUE

Horses release macrocytic RBCs that are not polychromatic (no reticulocytes -only way to find out if they are regenerating cells is through bone marrow)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Increased vs lack of polychromasia indicates what

A

Increase: regenerative anemia (good)

Lack: non regenerative anemia (bad)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Hypochromasia

A

Cells are more pal than normal

Increased central pallor

Due to a decreased hemoglobin concentration within the cell

Macrocytic RBCs can appear hypochromic because of enlarged cell size

Can be due to poor technique

Normally accompanied by Microcytosis (iron deficiency)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Hyperchromasia

A

Cells that are stained darker than normal

RBCs have a fixed maximum capacity for hemoglobin so over saturation is not possible

Hyperchromasia is usually seen on spherocytes or microcytic cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are schistocytes

A

RBC fragments

Due to shearing of the cell from intravascular trauma

19
Q

What are echinocytes

A

Will be seen on every smear

Normal all look the same: short evenly spaced blunt to sharp surface projections that are uniform in shape and size

Often an artifact from drying the slide too slowly, being refrigerated or put in a hypertonic solution

Classified as type 1 or 3

20
Q

What are type 1 vs 3 echinocytes

A

Type 1: cremated cells: very short projections

Type 3: burr cells: very thin, quill like projections

21
Q

What are acanthocytes

A

Irregularly speculated RBCs

Very few unevenly spaced surface projections of variable size and shape

Can be normal in cattle, often underlying pathology in larger numbers in SA

often only a problem if in large numbers

Hemageosarcoma

Paint like splotches

22
Q

What are drepanocyges

A

Also called sickle cells

Normal in deer and goats

Shaped like bananas

23
Q

What are Keratocytes

A

RBCs containing 1 or more spicules/projections that look like horns or crescents

May appear to contain a vacuole

May occur in small numbers in healthy animal or large numbers with pathology

24
Q

What are spherocytes

A

Darkly staining RBCs that don’t contain central pallor (look Hyperchromic)

Smaller than normal RBCs with normal
MCV

almost perfectly round

Usually Only detected in dogs

Seen with immune mediated hemolytic anemia

25
Q

What are leptocytes

A

A large cell membrane to volume ratio which causes the membrane to fold in on itself

Cell looks like it has 2 areas of central pallor

Usually due to improper filling if EDTA tubes

Considered an artifact if the areas of central Pallor are all perpendicular to the feathered edge

Servers types

26
Q

What are the 3 main types of leptocytes

A

Codocyte: target cells: dense central area separated by a peripheral clear zone, up to 50% are normal in dogs, uncommon in other species, may be artifact or seen with pathology

Stomatocyte: contain an oval central pallor, seen with Alaskan malamutes with hereditary stomaticytosis, significance is unknown, looks like a mouth

Knizocytes: has a dark bar if hemoglobin across the center of the cell, looks like it has 2 mouths

27
Q

What are elliptocytes/ovalocytes

A

Normal in camelids

These are oval shaped RBCs

Abnormal in other species

28
Q

What are eccentrocytes

A

Believed to be a precursor to the keratocyte

Loss of central pallor

Have 1 or 2 large clear zones outlined by the membrane

Often accompany Heinz bodies

Can be artifact

29
Q

What are dacrocytes

A

Cells that are shaped like a tear drop

If all the tails point in the same direction it is artifact

30
Q

What are ghost cells

A

Cells that have been leached off their hemoglobin

All you see in the cell membrane (faint outlines)

31
Q

Define poikilocytes

A

This is a blanket term that means the erythrocytes have an abnormal shape

Only used when none of the other descriptions match the cell

32
Q

What is basophilic stippling

A

Looks like blue dusting in the cell

Caused by residual RNA

“Blue spots”

If this is real it will be in focus while the cell is in focus (unlike stain sediment)

33
Q

What are Howell jolly bodies

A

Nuclear remnants

These are small, round, dark blue inclusions of variable size usually just off center

Has sharp edges and are in focus when the cell is in focus

34
Q

What are Heinz bodies

A

Oxidative denaturation if hemoglobin

1-5% normal in cats

Appear as small, eccentric, pale blue structures within RBCs, they appear to stick out or protrude from the edge (blip projecting off the edge)

In cats they are single and large, in dogs they are small and multiple

Test: stain for reticulocytes -Heinz’s bodies will stain darker

Seen with toxicities

35
Q

Nucleated RBCs

A

Slightly larger than mature cells and with have a dark nucleus

Usually associated with pathology -significant if there is a lot

36
Q

What are sideritic granules

A

Stainable iron granules within mitochondria and lysosomes (generally on the side of cells and are lighter than howell jolly Bodies)

Extremely rare

37
Q

What parasites are dogs often affected with

A

Dirofilaria immitis

Babesia canis

38
Q

What parasites are horses most commonly affected with

A

Babesia caballi

39
Q

What parasites are cats most commonly affected with

A

Mycoplasma haemofeilis

40
Q

How can you differentiate stain sediment

A

Stain sediment is often seen between the RBCs in equal Proportions as on top of the RBCs

41
Q

What do the mycoplasma haemofeilis look like

A

Small, oval to slightly rod shaped structures alone the cells periphery as single organisms or in chains/rings

Agglutination is usually present too

42
Q

What is ehrlichia and anaplasma

A

Transmitted by arthropods/ticks

Gram negative, rod shaped, spherical, coccoid or ring shaped bodies with RBCs

Diagnose with ELISA snap test

43
Q

What is Babesia canis

A

Protozoan infection transmitted by ticks

Produces severe hemolytic anemia

Usually appears as tear drop shaped organisms in RBCs

Stain darker

44
Q

What do viral infections look like in blood

A

Distemper inclusions rarely seen in dogs

When found they appear as faint blue to magenta round structures of variable size and number

Usually seen in polychromatophilic RBCs

Can be seen in neutrophils as well

Clinical Pathology (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions