Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014:2014:409573.
doi: 10.1155/2014/409573. Epub 2014 Jan 6.

Retrospective and Prospective Investigations about "Quatrefoil" Erythrocytes in Canine Blood Smears

Alessandra Gavazza  1 , Marianna Ricci  1 , Martina Brettoni  1 , Biancaurora Gugliucci  1 , Anna Pasquini  1 , Daniela Rispoli  1 , Nicola Bernabò  2 , George Lubas  1
Affiliations

Retrospective and Prospective Investigations about "Quatrefoil" Erythrocytes in Canine Blood Smears

Alessandra Gavazza et al. Vet Med Int. 2014.

Abstract

The presence of unusual two RBCs patterns (so-called "quatrefoil RBCs," qRBCs) on canine blood smears at Optical Microscope (OM) was seen during routine evaluation of CBCs. Two consecutive retrospective investigations were arranged including about 7,000 CBCs and clinical records and laboratory data from dogs showing qRBCs. Few samples with qRBCs were prepared for Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). qRBCs were found in 6.89% (139 of 2016) and 8.47% (133 of 1569) of dogs and in 3.89% (154 of 3,958) and 4.47% (138 of 3,081) of CBCs (some dogs were tested more than once). Statistical analysis was significant for age groups (Chi squared, P < 0.0001), decreased total leukocyte and neutrophil counts (ANOVA, P < 0.0001), RBCs anisocytosis, polychromasia, and Howell-Jolly bodies (ANOVA, P < 0.018, <0.005, and <0.003, respectively). qRBCs were distributed in the area of feathered edge and at the smear side of body-feathered edge area in blood films. SEM ruled out the possibility of an optical illusion or an accidental overlap. qRBCs are associated with ageing of dogs, total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, and RBC anisocytosis, polychromasia, and Howell-Jolly bodies. Few hypotheses were discussed to explain the origin and meaning of this RBC arrangement.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Few qRBCs seen (black circle) at the smear side adjacent to the body-feathered area (20x, May-Grundwald Giemsa).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Few qRBCs seen (black circle) in the feathered edge area of the blood film (20x, May-Grundwald Giemsa).
Figure 3
Figure 3
In this blood film at HPF (100x, May-Grundwald Giemsa) three qRBCs (black arrows) can be easily seen.
Figure 4
Figure 4
In this blood film at HPF (100x, May-Grundwald Giemsa) an intermediate form of qRBCs is easily seen (black arrow).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Unstained blood film in the feathered edge area where it can be seen two qRBCs at low (20x, black circle) (a) and high magnification (100x, black arrow) (b) and (c). These samples were used for SEM investigation.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Two qRBCs (white arrow) in blood film at SEM (150x, 10 kV).
Figure 7
Figure 7
The magnification of one qRBC in blood film at SEM (×5000, 10 kV).
Figure 8
Figure 8
The magnification of one “incomplete” qRBC in blood film at SEM (×5000, 10 kV).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Supposed spatial arrangement of qRBCs in a three-dimensional (3D) draw.
Figure 10
Figure 10
qRBCs are resembling the Pisa middle ages cross.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Barger AM. Schalm'S Veterinary Hematology. 6th edition. Ames, Iowa, USA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010. Erythrocyte morphology; pp. 144–151.
    1. Allison RW, Meinkoth JH. Hematology without the numbers: in-clinic blood film evaluation. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 2007;37(2):245–266. - PubMed
    1. Cowell R, Meinkoth J, Metzge F. The 3 minute blood film-erythrocyte evaluation. Proceeding of the Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference; 2008; Atlantic City, NJ, USA. Clinical Pathology Section;
    1. DeNicola DB. Hematologic evaluation of dogs & cats I: why is the blood film needed?. Proceeding of the Western Veterinary Conference; 2007; Las Vegas, NV, USA. Clinical Pathology Section; pp. 18–22.
    1. Christopher MM. Erythrocyte shape abnormalities: visual clues to systemic biochemical changes. Proceedings of the 11th European Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Conference; 2009; Thessaloniki, Greece. pp. 33–40.

LinkOut - more resources