Parasites of Red Cells:

Infections with organisms of several genuses can be detected by examination of peripheral blood smears. Some are important as causes of disease in the host animal, while others are essentially non-pathogenic under most circumstances. Hemolytic anemias caused by organisms that enter or attach to red cells are often mediated largely through antibody- and complement- mediated phagocytosis and/or lysis. Many animals with erythroparasite anemias are Coombs positive at the time of presentation. Direct injury of the red cell membrane by the parasite contributes to red cell destruction to a variable degree. Erythroparasites are not a common cause of hemolytic anemia in this geographic area, however nearly all of the pictures shown in this section are from patients at this institution. Hemobartonellosis of cats is the most commonly seen anemia of this type in animals endemic to upstate New York.