Normal Platelets
Morphology: platelets are small anucleate cells with round to oval shape and small pink or red cytoplasmic granules. Normal platelets are smaller than red blood cells. Canine platelets are moderately… Read more Normal Platelets →
Neutrophils
Also called: mature neutrophils, segmented neutrophils (segs), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) Morphology: granulocyte with an indented (segmented) nucleus and white or pale pink cytoplasm. Canine and bovine neutrophils may contain small pink… Read more Neutrophils →
Setaria equina
Morphology: long worm-like organism in the background of peripheral blood smear. Look alike: trypanosomes, other filarial organisms such as equine onchocerciasis (Onchocerca cervicalis) and canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Clinical relevance: Setaria equina is… Read more Setaria equina →
Mature Lymphocytes
Morphology: small round leukocytes with round or indented nuclei, dark clumped chromatin, and small amounts of light blue cytoplasm. Cattle have small lymphocytes (as described), as well as large lymphocytes with… Read more Mature Lymphocytes →
Nucleated Red Blood Cells
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 →
Normal Equine Erythrocytes
Morphology: relatively small, uniform red blood cells with little to no central pallor. Lifespan: 140 – 150 days Other features: rouleaux may be prominent in healthy horses. Polychromatophils are not observed in blood… Read more Normal Equine Erythrocytes →
Ghost Cells
Morphology: red blood cells that stain very pale due to loss of hemoglobin through intravascular lysis. Commonly seen with: other features of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) including spherocytes, polychromatophils, and agglutination… Read more Ghost Cells →
Spherocytes
Morphology: red blood cells with a spherical rather than biconcave shape. Spherocytes appear smaller than normal red blood cells, with loss of central pallor in dogs. Look alike: microcytes (may be… Read more Spherocytes →
Cells and Smears 