Spherocytosis

Spherocytosis in a patient with spheroidal cell anemia

A spherocytosis is an increased occurrence of spherical red blood cells ( spherocytes ) in the blood. It occurs congenitally in spherical cell anemia and acquired in the case of damage to the cell membrane in the context of autoimmune hemolytic anemia . Some snake venom can also cause spherocytosis.

Veterinary medicine

In dogs, spherocytosis is divided into four degrees of severity. The number of spherocytes in a field of view is determined at 1000x magnification. With grade 1+ there are 5 to 10 spherocytes per visual field (corresponds to 2 to 4%), for 2+ 11 to 50 (corresponds to 4 to 20%), for 3+ 51 to 150 (corresponds to 20 to 60%) and for 4+ more than 150 available.

In cats, spherocytes cannot be distinguished microscopically from small erythrocytes, as normal red blood cells also lack the central lightening.

literature

• Douglas Weiss and Harold Tveldten: Spherocytosis. In: Michael D. Willard and Harold Tveldten (eds.): Laboratory diagnostics in small animal practice . Elsevier, Urban & Fischer, 2011, ISBN 978-3-437-31387-5 , p. 56.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !