Metarubricyte: most mature form of nucleated red blood cell (nRBC). Nuclei are small and pyknotic, often eccentric, with condensed (smooth dark) chromatin. Cytoplasm is smooth and uniform and may stain… Read more Nucleated Red Blood Cells →
Morphology: relatively small red blood cells with mild anisocytosis and a small amount of central pallor. Lifespan: 160 days Other features: basophilic stippling common with regenerative response. Young calves (< 3 months) may show… Read more Normal Bovine Erythrocytes →
Morphology: immature red blood cells that stain dark purple on Romanowsky stains (Wright’s, Diff-Quick) due to retained cytoplasmic RNA. Larger than normal red cells. Commonly seen with: features of regenerative anemia (macrocytosis,… Read more Polychromatophils →
Morphology: numerous small, blue, punctate inclusions in red blood cells. Caused by spontaneous aggregation of ribosomes in the cytoplasm. Look alike: Mycoplasma Commonly seen with: features of regenerative anemia (macrocytes, anisocytosis, polychromatophils), features… Read more Basophilic Stippling →
Morphology: granulocyte with a segmented (often bi-lobed) nucleus and numerous pink-to-orange (eosinophilic) cytoplasmic granules. Considerable species variation in number, size, and shape of eosinophil granules. Considerable variation within and between dog… Read more Eosinophils →
Morphology: bands are immature neutrophils with an unsegmented horseshoe-shaped nucleus. Commonly seen with: toxic change Clinical relevance: left shift (↑ bands in peripheral blood) indicates inflammation. Left shift is more pronounced… Read more Bands (Left Shift) →
Morphology: toxic change refers to abnormalities in the cytoplasm of neutrophils including vacuolation (clear round areas that may coalesce to create a foamy appearance), Döhle bodies (dark blue irregular granules),… Read more Toxic Change →
Morphology: single or multiple pear-shaped (pyriform) organisms within red blood cells. Organisms stain dark purple around the periphery and clear in the centre. Look alike: Histoplasma capsulatum Commonly seen with: other tick-borne rickettsial… Read more Babesia →
Cells and Smears 