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Eosinophils:
Eosinophils are slightly larger than neutrophils and
have a nucleus that may be less segmented (often bilobed).The characteristic
feature of eosinophils is the presence of numerous acidophilic granules.
These granules stain with acidic dyes and so appear red in haematoxylin
(blue, basic) and eosin(red, acidic) stained tissue sections.
The appearance of the specific granules is quite variable
across the domestic species. In horse eosinophils the granules are large,
round and abundant, in ruminant eosinophils the granules are small, in
feline eosinophils the granules are rod shaped and numerous and in canine
eosinophils the granules are round and vary in size and number within
and among cells.
Eosinophils are particularly abundant at sites of allergic,
parasitic, or certain types of fungal inflammatory disease, but they can
be part of any exudate.
Eosinophils are phagocytic but are much less efficient
phagocytes when compared to neutrophils. Eosinophils are capable of damaging
or killing helminths and other pathogens and play a role in both causing
and assisting in the regulation of hypersensitivity disease. Eosinophils
are attracted to sites of mast cell degranulation and eosinophils can
produce and release products such as histaminase that are capable
of inactivating some of the mast cell derived products.
 
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