Clinical Cases in Avian and Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology

Terry Campbell, Krystan R. Grant, Terry W. Campbell

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN:
  9780813816616
• eBook ISBN:
  9780470961797
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Veterinary Medicine

Clinical Cases in Avian and Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology demonstrates how to use hemic cytology and cytodiagnosis as part of the assessment of an exotic animal patient, taking the reader through nearly 100 actual clinical cases. With a focus on cytological interpretation, the hands-on, practical approach facilitates learning, teaching, and comprehension. Well illustrated throughout, Clinical Cases in Avian and Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology is a helpful guide for exotics veterinarians, zoo and aquarium veterinarians, and veterinary hematologists.

Section 1
Mammalian Hematology Case Studies

1

A 6-Year-Old Otter Undergoing a Routine Physical Examination

Signalment

A 6-year-old intact North American male river otter (Lontra canadensis) was examined as part of a routine physical examination.

History

The patient was housed with two other male otters of the same age. No significant health problems had been observed in any of the otters. The otters were weighed weekly, and there had been no change in the appetite, behavior, or weight.

Physical Examination Findings

The 10 kg otter appeared healthy on physical examination (Figs. 1.1-1.4 and Tables 1.1 and 1.2).

Fig. 1.1. The North American river otter in an exhibit with his cage mate.

Other Diagnostic Information

A fecal occult blood was positive; however, no red blood cells or other abnormalities were seen on a fecal cytology.

Whole body ventral-dorsal and lateral radiographs revealed no abnormalities in the abdominal organs. The T14-L1 intervertebral disk space was narrowed with sclerotic end plates and was indicative of spondylosis deformans.

Endoscopic examination revealed evidence of fresh blood in the stomach and small punctate ulcers. Some shrimp tails remained in the stomach several hours after the last meal. The gastric mucosa was irregular, suggesting a possible infection associated with Helicobacter sp. The duodenum appeared normal. The esophagus was very long and the pylorus was open and easy to enter. Histopathologic examination of biopsies taken during the endoscopic examination revealed no abnormalities.

Fig. 1.2. The otter under anesthesia for physical examination and blood collection.

Fig. 1.3. (a and b) Blood films from an otter (Wright–Giemsa stain, 50x).

Interpretive Discussion

Figures 1.3 and 1.4 reveal erythrocyte abnormalities. Many of the erythrocytes are hypochromatic as indicated by extended central pallor and thin rim of hemoglobin. There are many keratocytes and schisto-cytes present. The erythrocytes (blister cells) appear to be developing vacuoles or blisters that enlarge. These blisters eventually break open to form "apple stem cells" and keratocytes. Spiculated erythrocytes (those with more than two pointed projections) are also seen. The projections fragment from the cells to form the schistocytes.

The packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV), and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) on the hemogram are decreased, which is indicative of an iron-deficiency anemia. The appearance of microcytic, hypochromic erythrocytes on the blood film is also indicative of an iron-deficiency anemia, a condition that is nearly always caused by chronic blood loss in an adult animal. The positive fecal occult blood is suggestive of gastrointestinal blood loss in this patient; however, the two healthy otters that share his habitat also exhibited positive fecal occult blood tests. Thus, it is likely that the results of the fecal occult blood testing are false-positive owing to the meat diet of the otters. The endoscopic examination suggested the possibility of blood being lost from the upper gastrointestinal tract as would be seen with Helicobacter involvement; however, histologic examination of biopsy samples failed to confirm pathology associated with that area (Table 1.3).

Fig. 1.4. A blood film from an otter (Wright–Giemsa stain, 100x ).

Table 1.1. Hematology results.

	Day 1	Ranges for otters at aquarium
WBC (10^3/μL)	7.1	2.7-5.3 (3.8)
Neutrophils (10^3/μL)	4.4	1.6-3.9 (2.4)
Neutrophils (%)	62	38-73 (61)
Lymphocytes (10^3/μL)	2.4	0.7-1.6 (1.1)
Lymphocytes (%)	34	16-48 (31)
Monocytes (10^3/μL)	0.2	0-0.2 (0.1)
Monocytes (%)	3	1-5 (2)
Eosinophils (10^3/μL)	0.1	0-0.4 (0.2)
Eosinophils (%)	1	1-8 (4)
Basophils (10^3/μL)	0	0
Basophils (%)	0	0
Plasma protein (g/dL)	7.4	7.4-8.1 (7.7)
RBC (106/μL)	11.5	10.9-14.6 (12.3)
Hb (g/dL)	9.9	16.0-19.6 (17.0)
PCV (%)	38	48-60 (52)
MCV (fL)	33.0	39-45 (42)
MCHC (g/dL)	26.0	32-34 (33)
Reticulocytes per microliter		10,910-14,620 (12,673)
Reticulocytes (%)		0.1
RDW	8.8	13.6-18.0 (15.1)
Platelets (10^3/μL)	762	311-474 (371)
MPV (fL)	5.9	6.0-6.9 (6.6)
Clumped platelets	0	0
Keratocytes	Moderate	0
Echinocytes	Few	0 to few
Hypochromasia	Slight	0
Reactive lymphs	Few	0

Table 1.2. Plasma bioc...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright
• Preface
• Acronyms And Abbreviations
• Section 1: Mammalian Hematology Case Studies
• Section 2: Avian Hematology Case Studies
• Section 3: Herptile Hematology Case Studies
• Section 4: Fish Hematology Case Studies
• Section 5: Mammalian Cytology Case Studies