DVM Clinical Pathology and Diagnostics 3

Question 1

A cat has a platelet count of 28,000/µL with large platelets on smear and no evidence of bleeding. What should be ruled out first?

Accepted Answer

Platelet clumping artifact

Answer

Feline platelets commonly clump in EDTA samples, causing a falsely low count; smear evaluation for clumps is essential before diagnosing true thrombocytopenia.

Question 2

Which urine sediment finding is pathognomonic for ethylene glycol toxicity in dogs?

Accepted Answer

Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals

Answer

Calcium oxalate monohydrate (hippurate) crystals in urine sediment are characteristic of ethylene glycol metabolism and are highly diagnostic.

Question 3

A dog has an ALT of 850 IU/L and AST of 420 IU/L with normal ALP. Which organ is most likely the primary source?

Accepted Answer

Liver

Answer

ALT is highly liver-specific in dogs, and marked elevation with concurrent AST rise points to hepatocellular injury as the primary source.

Question 4

A horse has peritoneal fluid with a total protein of 3.8 g/dL and nucleated cell count of 12,000/µL with 90% neutrophils. What is the diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Septic peritonitis

Answer

Elevated protein and a predominantly neutrophilic pleocytosis above 10,000/µL in equine peritoneal fluid indicates septic peritonitis.

Question 5

On a blood smear from a febrile dog returning from the southeastern US, you observe morulae within neutrophils. Which organism is implicated?

Accepted Answer

Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Answer

Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects neutrophils and forms characteristic morulae (intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies) within these cells.

DVM - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Practice Test

DVM - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Practice Test

DVM Clinical Pathology and Diagnostics 3