|
 
 |
| IMAGE IN HEMATOLOGY |
|
| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 13
| Issue : 2 | Page : 107-108 |
|
Platelet morphology masquerading as trypanosomiasis
Abhirup Sarkar, Shreyam Acharya, Aparna Ningombam, Kundan Kumar
Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| Date of Submission | 07-Nov-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 12-Dec-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 04-Aug-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Aparna Ningombam
Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/joah.joah_212_20
How to cite this article:
Sarkar A, Acharya S, Ningombam A, Kumar K. Platelet morphology masquerading as trypanosomiasis. J Appl Hematol 2022;13:107-8 |
A 5-year-old girl presented with intermittent low-grade fever for 6 days. Blood in K2-EDTA vial was sent for hematology work-up. Giemsa-stained smear showed structures morphologically resembling trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma sp. [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. Three independent examiners inspected the smear as trypanosomiasis is rare in the region. Although they resembled trypomastigotes, nucleus, kinetoplast, and undulating membrane were not distinguished. A fresh sample was obtained which, interestingly, showed higher platelet count with no evidence of Trypanosoma-like structure in the smear. The elements suspected to be trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma sp. were confirmed as elongated platelets by the examiners in the absence of any evidence of parasitic infection. | Figure 1: Peripheral blood smear showing various unusual platelet morphologies, some mimicking trypomastigotes (×1000)
Click here to view |
 | Figure 2: Aberrant platelet morphology mimicking trypomastigotes (×1000)
Click here to view |
Perroncito's and Demel's original hand-drawn illustrations depicting proplatelet have guided in understanding the origins of platelet.[1],[2] Various work on animal models regarding the formation of proplatelet and platelet are available, yet the phenomenon of proplatelet and platelet activation in vivo has not been captured by light microscopy.[3]
The appearance of these platelet morphologies in peripheral blood smear may masquerade and create plausible confusion with trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma sp. In case of suspicion, smear should be repeated. To the best of our knowledge, platelet morphology resembling trypanosomiasis has never been reported till date.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Perroncito A. Sulla derivazione delle piastrine. Haematologica 1921;2:510-26.  |
| 2. | Cesaris Demel A. Fatti ed ipotesi sulla origine delle piastrine. Haematologica 1924;5:104-46. |
| 3. | Italiano JE Jr., Lecine P, Shivdasani RA, Hartwig JH. Blood platelets are assembled principally at the ends of proplatelet processes produced by differentiated megakaryocytes. J Cell Biol 1999;147:1299-312. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
|
Search Pubmed for