Erythrocyte Morphology and Abnormalities in Canine and Feline Hematology

What are the six areas to evaluate in red cell morphology?

Colour, size, shape, inclusions, rouleaux, and agglutination.

What is the normal appearance of canine erythrocytes?

They have a wide rim of hemoglobin with an area of central pallor.

What are polychromasia and its significance?

Polychromasia refers to larger, blue-grey staining juvenile red blood cells (reticulocytes) indicating regeneration in anemia.

What does hypochromasia indicate?

It indicates decreased hemoglobin levels in red blood cells, often seen in iron deficiency.

What is anisocytosis?

A variation in the size of red blood cells, often increased in regenerative anemia.

What does poikilocytosis refer to?

The presence of abnormally shaped red blood cells, which can indicate metabolic or organ disorders.

What are acanthocytes?

Red blood cells with irregular, rounded projections, commonly associated with liver disease.

What are echinocytes?

Crenated red blood cells with numerous short, evenly spaced projections, often artifactual but can indicate dehydration.

What are codocytes?

Thin, flexible red blood cells resembling targets, associated with liver disease and iron deficiency.

What are schistocytes?

Irregularly shaped fragments of red blood cells, associated with liver disease and tumors.

What are spherocytes?

Small, round, deep-staining red blood cells lacking central pallor, indicative of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA).

What are Howell-Jolly bodies?

Small, round, deep blue-staining nuclear remnants seen in red blood cells, often in regenerative anemia.

What are Heinz bodies?

Round inclusions along the inner surface of red blood cell membranes, normal in small numbers in cats but can indicate anemia.

What is rouleaux?

The stacking or branching of red blood cells, common in normal feline blood films and indicative of inflammatory disease when increased.

What is agglutination?

The irregular clumping of red blood cells caused by antibodies, commonly seen in IMHA.

How can auto-agglutination be tested?

By mixing one drop of blood with one drop of saline on a glass slide and checking for clumps under a microscope.

What are nucleated red blood cells?

Juvenile red blood cells released early from the bone marrow, often seen in strongly regenerative anemia.

What is the significance of identifying erythrocyte morphological changes?

It facilitates rapid diagnosis of conditions or helps rule out others.