Erythrophagocytosis in phenylhydrazine induced acute anaemia in chickens

Acute anaemia was experimentally induced in chickens with a single subcutaneous injection of phenylhydrazine-hydrochloride. The birds were necropsied at fixed intervals. Liver, spleen and red bone marrow (from middle of tibia) were promptly dissected out. Impression smears were stained and examined under dry high power. Erythrophagocytosis was massive in the liver, moderate in the spleen and less conspicuous in bone marrow. Extensive erythrophagocytosis by the mononuclear cells might be associated with extravascular haemolysis. This appeared to be a major factor in the induction of anaemia.