Hematology Case Study Project

Reticulocytes normally mature where?

Bone marrow

A.) Are nucleated red blood cells counted as reticulocytes when performing a reticulocyte count?

B.)Are nucleated red blood cells counted as part of the 100-cell differential? Explain EACH answer.

A.) Nucleated red blood cells are not counted as reticulocytes when performing a reticulocyte count. Nucleated red blood cells are also known as metarubricytes which is just a step before becoming a reticulocyte/polychromatophil. Another reason as to why nucleated red blood cells are not considered reticulocytes is because they contain a nucleus and reticulocytes do not.

B.) Nucleated red blood cells are not counted as part of the 100-cell differential. In a 100-cell differential we are only counting leukocytes and not red blood cells.

The presence of spherocytes is indicative of what?

Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)

What RBC morphology is commonly seen on a feline blood smear?

Rouleaux

Identify all RBC morphologies in the photo

Howell-Jolly body, ghost cells, polychromasia, spherocytes, and anisocytosis

Reticulocytes typically circulate in the blood of healthy equine. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Provide a detailed justification for your answer.

I disagree with this statement. In equine, reticulocytes are not present in the peripheral blood and this is because RBCs mature in the bone marrow of horses and are not released prematurely.

Spherocytes are commonly found on blood smears from felines. Explain in detail why you believe this statement to be true or false.

I believe that this statement is false. In a healthy feline blood smear, their normal RBC morphology is little to no central pallor within the RBC's. When looking at a blood smear, it is extremely easy to get spherocytes and the normal RBC morphology confused. With this being said we can’t call spherocytes in feline

Juno, the French bulldog, is in for his annual wellness exam. During his exam blood is drawn for a CBC. What 3 values will you evaluate to determine if Juno is anemic?

PCV/Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, and RBC count

Which reticulocyte form should be counted in feline patients when performing a reticulocyte count? Give a detailed justification for your answer.

The aggregate reticulocyte should be the only form to be counted in feline patients when performing a reticulocyte count. Felines have both aggregate and punctate reticulocytes whereas other species only have aggregate. To keep a uniform/organized system of counting reticulocytes among all species including feline, we only count aggregate.