Morphology and Cytochemistry of Blood Cells from Asian Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus)

Abstract

Blood cells from direct blood smears of four adult Asian wild dogs (Cuon alpinus) were examined and measured after stainning with modified Wrights Giemsa stain and cytochemical stains, including Sudan black B (SBB), ∝-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), and β-glucuronidase (β-glu). Red blood cells show uniform in sized, biconcave and prominent central pallor with 6.0 μm mean diameter. Reticulocytes and nucleated red blood cells stained positive for ANAE and β-glu. Neutrophils have tight constricted and multilobulated nucleus which mostly occupied the cells. Neutrophils stain strongly positive with SBB, negative for ANAE and weak positive for β-glu. Eosinophils contain numerous round red refractile granules with some vacuoles. Eosinophils stain moderately positive for SBB and β-glu but negative for ANAE. Basophils have variable numbers of intensely basophilic granules which do not obscure the very long lobulated nucleus. Basophils stain moderately positive for SBB but strongly positive for ANAE and β-glu. Most lymphocytes are small and medium size (65:68). Lymphocytes are negative for SBB but have 3 patterns of reactivity for ANAE and β-glu, including negative, focal dot staining and fine granular staining. Monocytes stain moderately positive for SBB and moderately to strongly positive for ANAE and β-glu. Platelets are negative for SBB and stain moderately to strongly positive for ANAE and β-glu.