Week 3 - Clinical Pathology

Question 1

What are the three components of a CBC?

Answer 1

Erythrogram
Leukogram
Thrombogram

Question 2

What is anisocytosis?

Answer 2

Variation in RBC size

Question 3

What is microcytosis?

Answer 3

RBC decreased in size

Question 4

What conditions may cause microcytosis?

Answer 4

Iron deficiency (chronic blood loss)
Liver disease
Portosystemic shunt

Question 5

If mycrocytosis is present, what will the mean cell volume (MCV) read?

Answer 5

Decreased MCV

Question 6

What is macrocytosis?

Answer 6

RBC increased in size

Question 7

What conditions may cause macrocytosis?

Answer 7

Regenerative anaemia
FeLV
Hereditary - poodles

Question 8

With macrocytosis, what will the mean cell volume (MCV) read?

Answer 8

Increased MCV

Question 9

What is hypochromasia?

Answer 9

Pale RBCs due to low Hb content

Question 10

What causes hypochromasia?

Answer 10

Iron deficiency (Chronic blood loss)

Question 11

When hypochromasia is present, what might the MCHC and MCH readings show?

Answer 11

Decreased MCH
Decreased MCHC

Question 12

What is hyperchromasia?

And why might it occur?

Answer 12

RBCs appeared more densely stained.

High level of Hb

Question 13

What conditions are associated with hyperchromasia?

Answer 13

IMHA (spherocytes)
Oxidative injury (eccentrocytes)
Heinz body haemolytic disease

Question 14

What is Polychromasia?

Answer 14

Presence of pale blue RBCs.
Young RBCs

Question 15

What does polychromasia represent?

Answer 15

Bone marrow response to peripheral demand for RBCs.

Question 16

What is poikilocytosis?

Answer 16

Abnormal RBC shape

Question 17

What are the key features of a spherocyte?

Answer 17

Loss of biconcave disc shape
Smaller than RBC
lack of central pallor
Intense red stain

Question 18

Pherocytes have small pieces of the RBC membrane removed by what?

Answer 18

Macrophages

Leads to loss of biconcave shape

Question 19

Spherocytes are commonly seen with what disease process?

Answer 19

IMHA

Question 20

What are the key features of a schistocyte?

Answer 20

Irregular shape
Small RBC fragment

Question 21

Schistocytes are commonly associated with what disease processes?

Answer 21

DIC
hepatic disease
Heart worm
Endocarditis

Question 22

What is a leptocyte/codocyte (target cell)?

Answer 22

Large RBC membrane

Question 23

Common causes of lrptocytes/condocytes (target cell) include?

Answer 23

Liver disease
Portosystemic shunt
Iron deficiency

Question 24

Describe an acanthocyte (spur cell)?

Answer 24

Irregular (2-10) blunt finger like projections
Little or no central pallor

Question 25

What disease processes are associated with acanthocytes?

Answer 25

Liver disease Splenic disease DIC Renal disease

Question 26

What are the key features of crenation RBC?

Answer 26

Numerous, short projections Usually all over the cell

Question 27

Why does cremation of the RBC occur?

Answer 27

Loss of H2O due to hyperosmolar environment

Question 28

Common causes of creation of RBC include?

Answer 28

Artefact - EDTA, prolonged storage

Question 29

Echintocytes are associated with what disease processes?

Answer 29

Chemotherapy Snake bite Electrolyte imbalance Glomerulonephritis

Question 30

Keratocytes (blister cells) are caused by oxidative injury. What are there key features?

Answer 30

Blister within the RBC Irregular shaped helmet shaped

Question 31

Karatocytes (blister cells) are associated with what disease in the cat? The dog?

Answer 31

Cat: diabetes, lymphoma, acetaminophen Dog onion, zinc toxicity

Question 32

Eccentrocytes are caused by oxidative injury’s defined the key feature?

Answer 32

Harmoglobin is concentrated at one pill of the cell

Question 33

Eccentrocytes are associated with what disease processes in the cat? The dog?

Answer 33

Cat: diabetes, lymphoma, acetaminophen, hyperthyroid Dog: onion, zinc toxicity

Question 34

Stomatocytes have a curved mouth like central pallor. What disease process are they associated with?

Answer 34

Liver disease Electrolyte imbalance Cholesterol imbalance

Question 35

Heinz bodies are localised accumulations of oxidised Hb. What disease processes are they associated with in the cat? The dog?

Answer 35

Dog: iron, onion toxicity Cat: hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, acetaminophen, lymphoma

Question 36

Basophillic stippling are small dark granules scatters in the RBC. What are the common causes?

Answer 36

Lead toxicity (dog), regenerative anaemia, bone marrow disorders

Question 37

Howell jolly bodies are a single dark blue/purple round inclusions. What are they associated with?

Answer 37

Normal in small numbers in cats. Regenerative anaemia, splenic disease, dry thyroid dysplasia.

Question 38

What is the adequate numbers of platelets per field of view?

Answer 38

8 - 35

Question 39

An increase in platelet distribution width (PDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) indicate that….

Answer 39

Enlarged platelets or clumps present

Question 40

Macrothrombocytopaenia may be seen in which breeding dog?

Answer 40

CKCS

Question 41

Dysplastic platelets may be seen with?

Answer 41

FeLV Rapid turnover of platelets

Question 42

What is a reticulocyte?

Answer 42

Immature RBC

Question 43

What are the two types of reticulocytes in cats and dogs?

Answer 43

Aggregate reticulocytes Punctate reticulocyte

Question 44

Which reticulocyte is less mature and provides information about what is happening in the bone marrow over the last 24-72 hours?

Answer 44

Aggregate reticulocytes

Question 45

An increase in PCV and TS maybe be seen with?

Answer 45

Dehydration

Question 46

An increase in PCV and normal TS may be seen with?

Answer 46

Polycythaemia Normal for sight hounds

Question 47

A normal PCV and increased TS may be seen with?

Answer 47

Hyperglobulinaemia

Question 48

A normal PCV and TS may be seen with?

Answer 48

Normal presentation Acute haemorrhage

Question 49

A decreased PCV and increased TS may be seen with?

Answer 49

Anaemia

Question 50

Decreased PCV and TS may be seen with?

Answer 50

Haemorrhage Anaemia Hypoproteainaemia

Question 51

On a blood smear, the feathered edge is used for?

Answer 51

WBCs Platelet counts

Question 52

On a blood smear, the mono layer is used for?

Answer 52

RBCs Platelets

Question 53

On a blood smear, the base is difficult to examine due to?

Answer 53

Density of cells Stacking

Question 54

What do monocytes do?

Answer 54

Clean up damaged cells

Question 55

What do basophils do?

Answer 55

Produce an allergic response

Question 56

What do eosinophils do?

Answer 56

Destroy parasites Destroy cancer cells Assist basophils with allergic response

Question 57

What do lymphocytes do?

Answer 57

T cell - natural killers B cell - antibodies - produce proteins to fight infection

Question 58

What do neutrophils do?

Answer 58

Kill bacteria, fungi, foreign debris