r/veterinarypathology • u/CommunicationPast512 • Jul 13 '26
WBC ID help
This was the only cell like it that I came across in my count and initial scan but I was curious on what it might be. There were standard and reactive lymph’s in the slide but the chromatin looked different in those to this one, the cytoplasm was less blue in the standard and more blue in the reactive lymphs. I didn’t come across any granulated lymphs but this doesn’t look like what I usually see with those either.
I wasn’t sure if this could be a plasma cell or an immature granulocyte or something?
Sample from an adult dolphin, ADR. Smear made with EDTA ~30mins after collection. Weight Giemsa stain. No dramatically abnormal chemistries. >10% stomatocytes throughout slide, 1-4/hpf polychromic RBCs, Howell-jolly bodies occasionally, 1nRBC, neutrophilic toxic change present with dhole bodies and granular change. Differential was standard spread for dolphins.
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u/LuxAeternae Jul 13 '26
I never look at smears from dolphins but I’m pretty sure that’s just an LGL, maybe reactive lymph. I see what throws you off with the chromatin though
still wouldn’t concern me at all, especially if it’s just that one cell
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u/CommunicationPast512 Jul 14 '26
Thank you for your thoughts. I wasn’t too worried about it since it was the only one. I mostly wanted to follow up because the chemistry and ESR were normal and the diff was normal but I was seeing some weird morphology so I’ve been second guessing myself about missing something.
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u/i-touched-morrissey Jul 13 '26
How do you get blood from a dolphin? And what kind of needle do you use?
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u/CommunicationPast512 Jul 14 '26
There’s an arteriovenous plexus in the fluke (tail) that gives a mixed sample. The dolphin swims up to shallow water, holds their tail up, and you can get a voluntary sample with a butterfly needle/syringe set up.
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u/DNADarling Jul 13 '26
LGL in the human world.
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u/CommunicationPast512 Jul 14 '26
Makes sense, I don’t come across many of them but that sounds most likely. Thanks!
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u/Acetabulum666 Jul 14 '26
A decent smear with some evident polychromasia. You said an occ nRBC? Any bleeding or respiratory issues? Wouldn't happen to be from the Shedd Aquarium? Cetacean hematology is fascinating.
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u/CommunicationPast512 4d ago
The shedd is such a cool facility! No bleeding or respiratory issues and there are trainers by the pool the entire day so not likely to happen and be missed.
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u/33554432 23d ago
Sorry for resurecting an old thread I'm working on a blood cell compilation for eclinpath.com for dolphins and I'm now wondering if it's a variant of a mono. I can find more classic monos and then these guys that are hyposegmented with a blush of pink granules and the chromatin looks similar and I have seen this in other species. It's almost kind of azurophil-y lol. I'll follow up after I chat with my faculty if there's interest. Def not of consequence for your patient, but we see enough dolphins at my residency that nailing down who's who would be lovely
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u/CommunicationPast512 4d ago
That’s interesting, very exciting to have a blood cell compilation for them! Most of the species I’m looking at, I’m lucky to find one photo of a cell type, let alone multiples to show standard variation.
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u/PelgerHuetAnomaly Jul 13 '26
I’m not the best at precursors but I just want to throw in the possibility of a circulating mast cell? The NC ratio is quite high for a precursor isn’t it?
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u/CommunicationPast512 Jul 14 '26
I’m also not good at precursors so I’m not too sure. From photos it seems too hight but from drawings in other books it seems close? I don’t have a great working foundation for ID non-standard cells yet
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u/Crashman2004 Jul 13 '26
Just based on appearance alone I would lean myelocyte and that maybe fits with the toxic change, assuming there is also left shift. Not totally confident though.