Keratocytes
Also called: blister cells (vesicle), helmet cells (ruptured) Morphology: red blood cells with a blister-like vesicle on the margin, or a bite-shaped defect with horn-like projections on the margin (which results… Read more Keratocytes →
Schizocytes
Also called: schistocytes Morphology: red blood cell fragments. Usually oblong with irregular margins, but may appear in a variety of shapes and sizes. Commonly seen with: keratocytes and acanthocytes (if caused by… Read more Schizocytes →
Basophilic Stippling
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 →
Histoplasma
Morphology: intracellular yeast-like organisms with a pseudocapsule in the cytoplasm of neutrophils and monocytes. May be 1 – 20 organisms per cell. Organisms may be present in > 25% of… Read more Histoplasma →
Mycoplasma
Morphology: small blue cocci, rings, or rods on the surface of red blood cells. May be observed in the background between red blood cells (bacteria fall off of red cells… Read more Mycoplasma →
Eosinophils
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 →
Bands (Left Shift)
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) →
Toxic Change
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 →
Cells and Smears 