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Spurious reticulocyte profiles in a dog with babesiosis.

Authors :
Piane L
Théron ML
Aumann M
Trumel C
Source :
Veterinary clinical pathology [Vet Clin Pathol] 2016 Dec; Vol. 45 (4), pp. 594-597. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Oct 18.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

A 9-year-old, female Maltese dog was referred to the Veterinary School of Toulouse with a 2-day history of anorexia and weakness. On clinical examination, the dog had hyperthermia (39.7°C), abdominal discomfort, and polypnea. Significant laboratory findings included pigmenturia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypercreatininemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, abnormal Snap canine pancreas-specific lipase, and pancytopenia with a nonregenerative anemia. A peripheral blood smear revealed numerous intraerythrocytic large Babesia but no polychromasia. There was a discrepancy between the absolute automated reticulocyte count (Sysmex reticulocyte count: 60 × 10 <superscript>9</superscript> /L; RI 19.4-150.1 × 10 <superscript>9</superscript> /L) and the manual reticulocyte count (3.6 × 10 <superscript>9</superscript> /L) as well as the absence of polychromasia. The optical red blood cell scattergram showed an abnormal isolated reticulocyte cluster at the location of low-fluorescence ratio cells. These findings were interpreted as erythrocytes parasitized by large Babesia. The discrepancy between the Sysmex reticulocyte count and the manual reticulocyte count has been reported previously in people with falciparum malaria and numerous intra-erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum organisms. This spurious reticulocyte profile and reticulocyte count were observed with the Sysmex XT-2000iV and the ProCyte using the same fluorescent dye polymethine but not with the LaserCyte using new methylene blue which does not stain Babesia organisms on a blood smear performed for manual reticulocyte counting.<br /> (© 2016 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1939-165X
Volume :
45
Issue :
4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Veterinary clinical pathology
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
27755775
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12395