Whip-like heterophil projections in consecutive blood films from an injured gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) with systemic inflammation

Figures & data

Table 1. Hematological data of an injured gopher tortoise with systemic inflammation. Reference values are minimum and maximum values from 13 healthy gopher tortoises (Taylor & Jacobson 1982). For reference values, absolute numbers of leukocytes were calculated based on percentage of each leukocyte type times the mean total white blood cell (WBC) count. NR = not reported.

Days from admission	0	64	69	74	Reference Values
PCV (%)	19	13	11	10	15–30
WBC count K/µl	4.6	12.8	13.5	17.9	10–22
Immature heterophils K/µl	0.5	3.9	5.4	4.9	NR
Mature heterophils K/µl	1.9	2.7	3.4	6.3	1.6–8.9
Heterophil projections (% of total heterophils)	93	21	36	80	NR
Lymphocytes K/µl	0.8	2.6	0.8	0.9	5.0–12.4
Monocytes K/µl	0.3	1.3	1.0	1.1	0.5–2.1
Eosinophils K/µl	0.6	1.7	2.7	4.3	NR
Basophils K/µl	0.6	0.8	0.3	0.5	0.3–1.7
Thrombocytes K/µl	Adequate, clumped	Adequate, clumped	Adequate, clumped	Adequate, clumped	6–18
Erythrocyte morphology	Occ. hemo-gregarines	Occ. hemo-gregarines	Occ. hemo-gregarines	Occ. hemo-gregarines	NR
WBC morphology	Heterophil toxicity: 1+/few	Heterophil toxicity; 1+/most	Heterophil toxicity; 1+/most	Heterophil toxicity; 1+ to 2+/most	NR

Figure 1. Heterophil projections in the blood film of an injured gopher tortoise at day of admission. The projections are in the same color as heterophil granules and visible as rows of individual or fused heterophil granules (up to 30 m in length) that were arranged in semi-circular or circular formations. ×100 objective. Wright-Giemsa stain.

Figure 2. Heterophil projections in blood films of an injured gopher tortoise during 2.5 months of treatment (A-E; G). The projections are visible in mature (round nucleus and low nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio) and in immature heterophils (oval or elongated nucleus, larger nucleus compared to mature stage, immature granules, larger cell size). Mild toxicity is visible as mild degranulation, cytoplasmic basophilia, and/or vacuolation. A-B, E: mature heterophils, mild degranulation, and slight cytoplasmic basophilia; C-D, F-G: immature heterophils, mild degranulation, and slight cytoplasmic basophilia; H upper cell: mature heterophil; H bottom cell: immature heterophil, mild degranulation, cytoplasmic basophilia, and vacuolation. ×100 objective. Wright-Giemsa stain.

Taylor RW, Jacobson ER. 1982. Hematology and serum chemistry of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). Comp Biochem and Physiol A. 72:425–428.

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