Erythroid system

Question 1

What are the 4 functions of blood

Answer 1

transport
ion buffer
coagulation
thermoregulation

Question 2

what are reticulocytes

Answer 2

immature red blood cells
indicative of regeneration

Question 3

why do we need a special stain to identify reticulocytes

Answer 3

otherwise they could just be polychromatophils- look bigger and darker

Question 4

what are the two version of cats reticulocytes

Answer 4

aggregate
punctate

Question 5

when does peak production of reticulocytes occur in cattle

Answer 5

7-14 days post acute blood loss

Question 6

List 3 differences between dog and cat erythrocytes

Answer 6

dogs have larger erythrocytes
dogs have central pallor
cats have anisocytosis (variation in size)

Question 7

In which species is rouleaux a normal finding

Answer 7

horses

Question 8

in what species is crenation a normal finding

Answer 8

ruminants

Question 9

in what species is anisocytosis a normal finding

Answer 9

ruminants and cats

Question 10

Define normocytosis

Answer 10

normal MCV

Question 11

define MCV

Answer 11

mean corpuscular volume
average volume of erythrocyte

Question 12

define macrocytosis

Answer 12

high MCV
typically seen in regenerative anaemia

Question 13

define microcytosis

Answer 13

low MCV

Question 14

what does hypochromic microcytosis indicate

Answer 14

iron deficiency or portosystemic shunts

Question 15

in what dog breed is macrocytosis normal

Answer 15

poodles

Question 16

in what dog breed is microcytosis normal

Answer 16

akitas

Question 17

what does a hypochromic macrocytosis indicate

Answer 17

regenerative anaemia

Question 18

what does a normochromic macrocytosis indicate

Answer 18

non-regenerative anaemia - feline leukaemia and myeloproliferative disorders

Question 19

what is MCHC

Answer 19

mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration

Question 20

define normochromic

Answer 20

normal haemoglobin content

Question 21

define hypochromic

Answer 21

low concentration of haemoglobin

Question 22

what does a raised MCHC indicate

Answer 22

haemolysis or lipaemia

Question 23

what is polychromasia

Answer 23

term for a pale-blue RBC in routine stains, due to RNA content

Question 24

what is poikilocytosis

Answer 24

alteration in cell shape

Question 25

what can cause poikilocytosis

Answer 25

abnormal erythropoesis or specific organ dysfunction

Question 26

What are codocytes

Answer 26

cells that look like targets central haemoglobin surrounded by an area of pallor and then a band of haemoglobin

Question 27

when do we generally see codocytes

Answer 27

in iron deificiency aneamia, liver disease with cholestasis and after splenectomies in dogs

Question 28

are codocytes an important finding

Answer 28

No

Question 29

what are acanthocytes

Answer 29

also known as spur cells Rounded projections of variable diameter & length, unevenly distributed

Question 30

when are acanthocytes generally seen

Answer 30

diffuse liver disease haemangiosarcomas portosystemic shunts

Question 31

what are spherocytes

Answer 31

Abnormally round red blood cell containing more than normal amounts of hemoglobin lack central pallor

Question 32

when do spherocytes tend to form

Answer 32

IMHA blood transfusions

Question 33

why are spherocytes hard to recognise in cats

Answer 33

as they look similar to there normal RBCs

Question 34

what are schistocytes

Answer 34

irregular fragmented erythrocytes occur through mechanical trauma to circulating erythrocytes

Question 35

when can schistocytes form

Answer 35

IMHA thrombosis haemangiosarcomas glomerulonephritis CHF heart disease myelofibrosis doxorubicin toxicity

Question 36

what are echinocytes

Answer 36

crenated burr cells RBCs with spiked projections of more uniform length

Question 37

why can echinocytes form

Answer 37

can be due to dehydration but usually an aretfact

Question 38

what does rouleaux indicate in small animals

Answer 38

inflammation

Question 39

what is agglutination

Answer 39

clumping of red blood cells

Question 40

what does agglutination indicate

Answer 40

IMHA or mismatched blood transfusion

Question 41

what are heinz bodies

Answer 41

irregular shaped, refracticle, intracellular inclusions indicating oxidative damage

Question 42

List 3 abnormal RBC structures that indicate regeneration

Answer 42

basophilic stippling nucleated erythrocytes Howell-Jolly bodies

Question 43

what can basophilic stippling be indicative of

Answer 43

regenerative anaemia lead poisoning immature erythrocytes in ruminants

Question 44

what can nucleated erythrocytes be indicative of

Answer 44

regenerative anaemia non-functioning spleen marrow damage myeloproliferative disease

Question 45

what can cause Howell-Jolly bodies

Answer 45

regenerative anaemia splenectomy suppressed splenic function

Question 46

how can we diagnose mycoplasma haemofelis

Answer 46

PCR

Question 47

how can we test if we trust our haemotology results

Answer 47

rule of three - Hct% = Hgb (g/dL)x 3 +/- 3%

Question 48

what is polycythaemia

Answer 48

increase in PCV Hgb concentration RBC count

Question 49

what is relative polycythaemia

Answer 49

When plasma volume is reduced eg in dehydration

Question 50

what is absolute polycythaemia

Answer 50

Increase in absolute RBC mass primary - normal EPO level secondary - increased EPO