Table 3.

Blood smear evaluation for investigation of underlying causes of non-regenerative anemia in cats

Abnormality	Possible causes	Image	Description of image
Red blood cell parasites	• Merozoites18,19 (Cytauxzoon felis) Hemoplasmas 20 (Mycoplasma haemofelis, Mycoplasma haemominutum)		Peripheral blood smear with Cytauxzoon piroplasms. Reproduced from JFMS 2015; 17: 1069–1072, with permission of Amy MacNeill
Circulating mast cells or other atypical cells	• Mast cell tumor55–57 • Lymphoma 58 • Leukemia • Multiple myeloma 59		Erythroid precursors in a peripheral blood smear of an anemic cat. Courtesy of Andrea Siegel
Acanthocytes	• Neoplasia 48 • Bone marrow disorders 48 • Hepatic lipidosis and other liver disease11,60 • Doxorubicin therapy 61		Acanthocytes in a peripheral blood smear of a cat with renal lymphoma. Arrows point to selected acanthocytes. Courtesy of Delphine Rivière
Elliptocytes/ovalocytes	• Myelofibrosis 37 • Iron deficiency 37 • Hepatic lipidosis and other liver disease 60 • Doxorubicin therapy 61		Multiple elliptocytes/ovalocytes in a peripheral blood smear. Reproduced from JFMS 2017; 19: 529–540, with permission of John Harvey
Schistocytes	• Neoplasia 37 • Liver disease37,60 • Hemophagocytic histiocytic disease37,62 • Acquired dyserythropoiesis 37 • Iron deficiency 37 • Disseminated intravascular coagulation 37 • Doxorubicin therapy 61		Schistocytes (arrows) in a peripheral blood smear of a cat with renal lymphoma. Courtesy of Delphine Rivière
Hemophagocytosis	• Histiocytic disease 63 • Mast cell neoplasia 56 • Mycoplasma haemofelis 64		Peripheral blood smear with a phagocytized erythrocyte in a monocyte. Reproduced from JFMS 2017; 19: 747–757, with permission of John Harvey
Heinz bodies	• Acetaminophen37,64 • Onions and other Allium species37,65 • Benzocaine 37 • Propofol66,67 • Methionine 37 • Methylene blue 37 • Propylene glycol32,37,68 • Phenazopyridine 37 • Diabetes mellitus36,37,60,69 • Hyperthyroidism 36 • Lymphoma 36 • Liver disease 69 • Others 36		Red blood cells with Heinz bodies in a peripheral blood smear of a cat. Arrows point to selected Heinz bodies. Courtesy of Delphine Rivière