Abstract
This excellent book provides extensive coverage of the clinical pathology of domestic animals and encompasses much more than just the fundamentals. The content of the second edition has been expanded from the first edition while preserving and building on its general style. In the new addition analytical aspects of leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets are described in respective chapters rather than grouped in one chapter on basic hematologic assays; also platelets and hemostasis are described in separate chapters.
The book is logically organized into 19 chapters beginning with key introductory concepts of sample collection and suitability, types of assays, use of units and reference intervals, evaluation and validation of methods, and a fairly detailed overview of quality control in the laboratory. The topics of the next 5 chapters are congruous with those anticipated for hematology: i.e., leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, hemostasis, and bone marrow and lymph nodes. As well as describing and explaining physiologic processes and abnormal concentrations of the various blood cell types in circulation, topics include morphologic abnormalities of blood cells, blood typing and crossmatching, methods for detecting erythrocyte surface antibody or complement, tests for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, classification of bone marrow hemic neoplasia, and a summary of immunophenotyping targets used in immunodiagnostics of hemic cells in dogs. The ensuing 12 chapters cover proteins, urinary system, electrolytes and osmolality, blood gases, minerals, enzymes, liver function, glucose and ketoamines, exocrine pancreas and intestine, lipids, and thyroid and adrenal function. There is a new chapter on cavitary effusions that focuses on the pathophysiologic processes involved. The color plate section has been expanded and provides excellent quality images (181 total) related to cytology of blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, urine and cavitary effusions. Similar to the 1st edition, a series of serum protein electrophoretic densitometer tracings in cats and dogs are included in the plates with accompanying interpretive descriptions. The book mainly refers to dogs, cats, horses, and cattle and North American diseases to explain concepts and exemplify clinical pathology changes. There is no intent to cover other species. Figures or tables are provided to exemplify clinical pathology changes for selected disorders, and there is no separate section on case studies per se. Diagnostic cytology coverage is limited.
Each chapter is logically organized and well written and includes: a table of contents, abbreviations, terminology, and basic concepts; explanation of physiologic processes relevant to the analytes; summarized analytical principles and current methodologies available; and description of characteristics of the analytes in disease states. References have been updated and an extensive bibliography is provided for each chapter. Key physiologic and pathophysiologic concepts are clearly illustrated in figures, and causes of perturbations in analytes are tabulated, thus facilitating understanding and assimilation.
The book repeatedly raises awareness of the need to evaluate laboratory results in light of the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of assays. Descriptions of methodology and equipment/analyzers in current use for each analyte are instructive. The potential impact of analyte stability, potential interferences (lipemia, hemolysis, bilirubin, drugs), laboratory systematic or random errors, and errors arising from in-house procedures or sample collection and handling is well described. Overall, the authors go to lengths to provide perspective that enables appropriate evaluation of clinical pathology results.
The level of detail on some topics may be overwhelming for veterinary students, and perhaps in parts even for clinical pathology graduate students. For example, in the chapter on blood gases (chapter 10), the traditional description of acid-base disorders can be readily understood; however, assimilation of the ensuing detailed descriptions of alternative approaches to acid-base interpretation (i.e., strong ion difference and Stewart's method of acid-based analysis with accompanying formulae) is challenging. That said, major strengths of the book are its depth and breadth.
A website is available from which the book's excellent figures are available. The website also lists specific objectives that may be used as study guides. A link is also available to access corrections and modifications.
The wealth of information contained in this textbook will be an excellent resource for all those involved in the generation and evaluation of veterinary clinical laboratory data, and I highly recommend it for students of veterinary clinical pathology at all levels.