Foundations IIa blood morphology changes

Schistocytes

Hemangiosarcomas, DIC, liver disease, hepatic lipidosis

Echinocytes

Dehydration, electrolyte depletion, doxorubicin toxicity

Normal in pigs

Can be mistaken for drying artifact

Acanthocyte

Hemangiosarcoma, DIC, liver disease

Spherocytes

Loss of shape often occurs with IMHA

Ghost cells

IV hemolysis is the only thing that causes these

Target cells

Regenerative anemia, iron deficiency, cholestasis

Rouleaux formation

Hyperglobulinemia, increased fibrinogen

Normal in horses

RBC agglutination

Never normal; can indicate IMHA

Double-check with saline dispersion test

Heinz bodies

Oxidative damage (drugs, toxins, etc.)

Howell-Jolly bodies

Remnant of nucleus in RBC

Regenerative anemia, splenic dysfunction, recent splenectomy

Basophilic stippling

Residual clumps of RNA

Regenerative anemia, dyserythropoiesis, lead toxicity

Mycoplasma

Pathogenicity varies

C. felis

Causes severe non-regenerative anemia with rapid progression

Anaplasmosis

Smaller than HJ bodies and may see multiple per cell

Hemolytic anemia

Large-form babesia

Often subclinical, but can cause anemia/thrombocytopenia

Small-form babesia

More severe; anemia, thrombocytopenia

Looks similar to C. felis

Microfilaria

Dohle bodies

Can indicate inflammation, infection

Mild = normal in cats

Basophilic cytoplasm

Can indicate inflammation/infection

Vacuolization

Can indicate inflammation/infection if accompanied by other toxic changes

If not, it is likely artifact

Toxic granulation

Can indicate infection/inflammation

Common in birds, reptiles, amphibians

(Top middle spot)

Neutrophil - granulocytic ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis

Will be accompanied by anemia, thrombocytopenia, and polyarthritis

Monocytic ehrlichiosis

Similar to neutrophilic ehrlichiosis

Will be acoompanied by anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperglobulinemia, lymphocytosis

Distemper inclusions (lymphocyte, neutrophil, erythrocyte)

Normal bird heterophil

Normal tortoise heterophil

Normal tortoise eosinophil

Normal iguana eosinophil

Normal parrot eosinophil

Normal exotic monocytes

Normal exotic basophil

Azurophil

Lymphocyte

Thrombocytes

Hemoproteus

Mostly non-pathogenic, but can cause hemolytic anemia with high load

Leukocytozoon

Mostly non-pathogenic, but can cause hemolytic anemia with high load

Plasmodium

Looks like hemoproteus/hemogregarina but may push the nucleus

Hemogregarina

Mostly non-pathogenic, but can cause hemolytic anemia with high load