ENHANCED HEINZ BODY FORMATION, CELL-LYSIS AND ANEMIA IN A KOALA (PHASCOLARCTOS-CINEREUS)

Heinz body-mediated lysis of erythrocytes was detected in a free-livin g koala. The anaemia was markedly regenerative and characterised by gh ost cells and numerous large Heinz bodies on peripheral blood films. E ndogenous and exogenous causes of increased Heinz body formation were considered. The fact that Heinz bodies are also present in the blood o f healthy koalas suggests that this species may be particularly suscep tible to oxidant damage of haemoglobin in a manner similar to that occ urring in the domestic cat.