OBJECTIVES: To characterize the number of granulocytes needed to count on peripheral smear to identify diagnostic anaplasmosis morulae. METHODS: Retrospective case study where the peripheral smears of 14 confirmed cases of anaplasmosis were examined. The granulocytes were counted up to 100 and 200 until a morula was identified. The mean counts of three pathologists were calculated to determine the minimum number of granulocytes needed to count for identifying diagnostic morulae. RESULTS: Morulae were identified before a count of 100 granulocytes in 11 (78.6%) cases and between 100 and 200 granulocytes in 3 (21.4%) cases. All 14 (100%) cases had morulae identified before counting 200 granulocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral smears are a useful, cost-effective, and time-effective tool for diagnosing anaplasmosis. In positive cases, diagnostic morulae can be identified with a count of 200 granulocytes.
OBJECTIVES: To characterize the number of granulocytes needed to count on peripheral smear to identify diagnostic anaplasmosis morulae. METHODS: Retrospective case study where the peripheral smears of 14 confirmed cases of anaplasmosis were examined. The granulocytes were counted up to 100 and 200 until a morula was identified. The mean counts of three pathologists were calculated to determine the minimum number of granulocytes needed to count for identifying diagnostic morulae. RESULTS: Morulae were identified before a count of 100 granulocytes in 11 (78.6%) cases and between 100 and 200 granulocytes in 3 (21.4%) cases. All 14 (100%) cases had morulae identified before counting 200 granulocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral smears are a useful, cost-effective, and time-effective tool for diagnosing anaplasmosis. In positive cases, diagnostic morulae can be identified with a count of 200 granulocytes.
Entities:
Keywords:
Human granulocytic anaplasmosis; Morula; Peripheral blood smear
Authors: Seung Hun Lee; Se Yoon Park; Mi Jin Jang; Ki Ju Choi; Hae Kyung Lee; Young-Uk Cho; Yeong Seon Lee; Sung-Han Kim; Seon Do Hwang Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2017-10-26 Impact factor: 2.345