Dohle bodies –
**Core Concept**
Dohle bodies are small, blue-gray inclusions seen in neutrophils on a Wright's stained peripheral smear. They represent aggregated ribosomes and are indicative of an acute bacterial infection or inflammation.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Dohle bodies are formed as a result of the rapid release of granules from the Golgi apparatus in response to an inflammatory stimulus. This leads to the aggregation of ribosomes along the periphery of the neutrophil, forming characteristic inclusions. The presence of Dohle bodies is often associated with conditions such as pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Dohle bodies are not a characteristic feature of viral infections, which typically cause changes in the lymphocyte population.
**Option B:** Basophilic stippling is a different type of cytoplasmic inclusion seen in red blood cells, not neutrophils.
**Option C:** Auer rods are specific inclusions found in the cytoplasm of myeloid cells, particularly in acute myeloid leukemia.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Dohle bodies are a classic sign of an acute bacterial infection and are often seen in conjunction with other signs of inflammation, such as a left shift in the neutrophil count and the presence of toxic granulations.
**Correct Answer: A. Dohle bodies are indicative of an acute bacterial infection or inflammation.**