Avian Hematology Slides

1
Avian Hematology Slides
2
Avian RBC maturation-The younger cells are
smaller, rounder and have a more basophilic
cytoplasm. Mature erythrocytes are oval with
eosinophilic cytoplasm. The nuclear size
decreases and the amount of cytoplasm increases
as the cell matures.
Polychromatic (younger) RBCs
Mature erythrocytes
Basophilic (even younger) erythroblast
3
This is a very young red blood cell or basophilic
erythroblast. Also present are some
polychromatic and mature erythrocytes.
Polychromatic erythrocytes
Basophilic erythroblast
Mature erythrocytes
4
There is a definite increase in the number of
young RBCs in this field. This would indicate
regenerative anemia. The body is producing more
red blood cells to replace a loss. If the number
of RBCs falls below the normal range it could be
due to blood loss or perhaps RBC destruction.
5
Here you see an anucleated RBC. The presence of
a small number of these cells has no pathological
significance. Also note the smudged RBC. Red
blood cells are very fragile and are often
damaged when the slide is made.
RBC with no nucleus (anucleated) Smudged RBC
6
These are typical avian white blood cells. The
heterophil (on the right) is round with round red
granules in the clear cytoplasm. The eosinophil
is also round with a blue-gray cytoplasm and
stains more noticeably than the heterophil.
Eosinophil Heterophil
7
This is another example of an avian eosinophil.
8
This is an example of a heterophil that is
broken, revealing rod-shaped, red granules.
9
This is an example of a basophil. The cell is
round and contains a nucleus that is light blue
in color. It has a large number of deeply
basophilic-staining granules that almost cover
the nucleus.
10
This field contains a heterophil (at top) and a
lymphocyte. The heterophil has rod-shaped
granules. The lymphocyte is molded around the
adjacent cells. There is a high nuclear to
cytoplasmic ratio in the lymphocyte.
11
This is an example of a lymphocyte that has
irregular cytoplasmic projections, known as
blebs.
12
Another lymph with blebs
13
This shows mature red cells, a young
(polychromatic) red blood cell and a lymphocyte.
Note how the lymph is molded around the adjacent
RBCs.
Polychromatic RBC Lymphocyte
14
This blood is from a white-winged dove. Their
lymphocytes have granules in the cytoplasm.
Lymphocyte
15
This is a small lymphocyte showing very little
cytoplasm.
16
This is a monocyte. Note the indented nucleus,
and the abundant amount of light blue cytoplasm.
This helps to distinguish it from a lymphocyte,
which has a smaller proportion of cytoplasm.
Monocyte
17
This is another monocyte. The nucleus shows less
indentation. There is a greater amount of
cytoplasm than you would see in a lymphocyte.
18
Here you see a monocyte with an indented nucleus
and some vacuoles. Above it is a heterophil.
19
These are clumped thrombocytes. Note that they
are small, usually more rounded than RBCs, hand
have clear cytoplasm.
20
Here is another thrombocyte.
21
Here we see a heterophil (left), a lymphocyte
(center) and a monocyte (right).
22
All of the hematology slides in this presentation
were generously donated by Dr. David Phalen,
Associate Professor of Large Animal Medicine and
Surgery, Texas AM University.