Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Conference abstract2014Peer reviewed

Selective cobalamin malabsorption and regenerative anaemia in a Border Collie

Tvedten, Harold; Falkenö, Ulrika

Abstract

Selective cobalamin malabsorption and regenerative anemia in a border collie

H Tvedten and U Falkenö University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of the Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden

A 1 year old border collie had pale mucous membranes, lethargy and poor body condition. Hematologic testing indicated it had a moderate anemia (haematocrit 30 %) which was clearly regenerative. It had 340 NRBC/100 WBC and neutropenia (1.6 x 109/L). A large number of NRBC (metarubricytemia) and neutropenia had been reported in border collie cases of selective cobalamin malabsorption earlier, so we tested serum cobalamin and it was under our measurement range (< 111 pmol/L: reference 135-670). The dog was positive for the Cubilin gene mutation. Anemia of cobalamin deficiency has been described as non-regenerative, normocytic normochromic, but our patient had strong signs of regeneration. A littermate was also had the Cubilin gene defect and a regenerative anemia. The dog was treated with cobalamin and became hematologically and clinical normal. Prominent hematologic errors were noted with the Advia 2120 results. Placement of many NRBC in an unusually tight cluster in an unusual position in the basophil counting area caused false reporting of a basophilia. Variable inclusion of NRBC in the total WBC count also caused great variation in counts (7.66 or 21.74 x 109/L) with the same sample. The Advia also had great variation in the reticulocyte counts with the same sample (286- 406 x 109/L reticulocytes). The NRBC and even reticulocytes in this patient appeared to react unusually in the Advia 2120 system.

Keywords

anemia

Published in

New Zealand Veterinary Journal
2014, Volume: 62, number: 5, pages: 304
Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Conference

39th Conference of teh New Zealand Society for Veterinary Pathology