Three polychromatophilic macrocytes (reticulocytes) and a monocyte in the blood of a ewe with copper toxicosis. Ruminant reticulocytes: No reticulocytes circulate in blood in non-anemic ruminants. Reticulocytes are found in blood of anemic ruminants only in acute blood loss or hemolytic anemias. In virtually all cases, the presence of reticulocytes in blood is evidence of regenerative anemia. Quantitation of reticulocytes can be done but does not provide a large amount of additional information. The essential information that there are young red cells circulating in blood in an anemic ruminant can be derived from the routinely stained blood smear. In polychrome (Wright's)-stained smears, ruminant reticulocytes appear as either polychromatophilic (diffusely blue) red cells or red cells with basophilic stippling, which is seen as blue dots in the red cell. These RNA-containing red cells are appreciably larger than the orthochromatic red cells.