Avian Hematology SlidesAvian Hematology Slides

Avian RBC maturation-The younger cells are smaller, rounder and Avian RBC maturation-The younger cells are smaller, rounder and have a more basophilic cytoplasm. Mature erythrocytes are oval have a more basophilic cytoplasm. Mature erythrocytes are oval with eosinophilic cytoplasm. The nuclear size decreases and the with eosinophilic cytoplasm. The nuclear size decreases and the amount of cytoplasm increases as the cell matures.amount of cytoplasm increases as the cell matures.

Polychromatic (younger)

RBCs

Basophilic (even younger)

erythroblast

Mature erythrocytes

This is a very young red blood cell or basophilic erythroblast. Also This is a very young red blood cell or basophilic erythroblast. Also present are some polychromatic and mature erythrocytes.present are some polychromatic and mature erythrocytes.

Basophilic erythroblast

Polychromatic erythrocytes

Mature erythrocytes

There is a definite increase in the number of young RBCs in this There is a definite increase in the number of young RBCs in this field. This would indicate regenerative anemia. The body is field. This would indicate regenerative anemia. The body is producing more red blood cells to replace a loss. If the number of 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 RBCs falls below the normal range it could be due to blood loss or perhaps RBC destruction.perhaps RBC destruction.

Here you see an anucleated RBC. The presence of a small Here you see an anucleated RBC. The presence of a small number of these cells has no pathological significance. Also note number of these cells has no pathological significance. Also note the smudged RBC. Red blood cells are very fragile and are often the smudged RBC. Red blood cells are very fragile and are often

damaged when the slide is made.damaged when the slide is made.

RBC with no nucleus

(anucleated)

Smudged RBC

These are typical avian white blood cells. The heterophil (on the These are typical avian white blood cells. The heterophil (on the right) is round with round red granules in the clear cytoplasm. The right) is round with round red granules in the clear cytoplasm. The eosinophil is also round with a blue-gray cytoplasm and stains eosinophil is also round with a blue-gray cytoplasm and stains more noticeably than the heterophil. more noticeably than the heterophil.

Eosinophil

Heterophil

This is another example of an avian eosinophil.This is another example of an avian eosinophil.

This is an example of a heterophil that is broken, revealing rod-This is an example of a heterophil that is broken, revealing rod-shaped, red granules.shaped, red granules.

This is an example of a basophil. The cell is round and contains a 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 nucleus that is light blue in color. It has a large number of deeply basophilic-staining granules that almost cover the nucleus.basophilic-staining granules that almost cover the nucleus.

This field contains a heterophil (at top) and a lymphocyte. The This field contains a heterophil (at top) and a lymphocyte. The heterophil has rod-shaped granules. The lymphocyte is molded heterophil has rod-shaped granules. The lymphocyte is molded around the adjacent cells. There is a high nuclear to cytoplasmic around the adjacent cells. There is a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio in the lymphocyte.ratio in the lymphocyte.

This is an example of a lymphocyte that has irregular cytoplasmic This is an example of a lymphocyte that has irregular cytoplasmic projections, known as blebs. projections, known as blebs.

Another lymph with blebsAnother lymph with blebs

This shows mature red cells, a young (polychromatic) red blood This shows mature red cells, a young (polychromatic) red blood cell and a lymphocyte. Note how the lymph is molded around the cell and a lymphocyte. Note how the lymph is molded around the adjacent RBCs.adjacent RBCs.

Polychromatic RBC

Lymphocyte

This blood is from a white-winged dove. Their lymphocytes have This blood is from a white-winged dove. Their lymphocytes have granules in the cytoplasm.granules in the cytoplasm.

Lymphocyte

This is a small lymphocyte showing very little cytoplasm.This is a small lymphocyte showing very little cytoplasm.

This is a monocyte. Note the indented nucleus, and the abundant This is a monocyte. Note the indented nucleus, and the abundant amount of light blue cytoplasm. This helps to distinguish it from a amount of light blue cytoplasm. This helps to distinguish it from a lymphocyte, which has a smaller proportion of cytoplasm.lymphocyte, which has a smaller proportion of cytoplasm.

Monocyte

This is another monocyte. The nucleus shows less indentation. This is another monocyte. The nucleus shows less indentation. There is a greater amount of cytoplasm than you would see in a There is a greater amount of cytoplasm than you would see in a lymphocyte.lymphocyte.

Here you see a monocyte with an indented nucleus and some Here you see a monocyte with an indented nucleus and some vacuoles. Above it is a heterophil.vacuoles. Above it is a heterophil.

These are clumped thrombocytes. Note that they are small, These are clumped thrombocytes. Note that they are small, usually more rounded than RBCs, hand have clear cytoplasm. usually more rounded than RBCs, hand have clear cytoplasm.

Here is another thrombocyte. Here is another thrombocyte.

Here we see a heterophil (left), a lymphocyte (center) and a Here we see a heterophil (left), a lymphocyte (center) and a monocyte (right).monocyte (right).

All of the hematology slides in this presentation were generously donated by Dr. All of the hematology slides in this presentation were generously donated by Dr. David Phalen, Associate Professor of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Texas David Phalen, Associate Professor of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Texas A&M University.A&M University.