In the case of adEBO, the number of vacuolized
neutrophils reached 75% and the vacuolization was
very pronounced. This vacuolization may reflect degeneration
of cells but may also be a sign of activated
pinocytosis [17]. During viral infection pinocytosis
reflects a particular stage of viral reproduction, the
threshold of the death or damage of the infected cell
[18], consistent with observed marked decrease in neutrophil
counts on day 11. Such pathological vacuolization
of the neutrophil cytoplasm along with the drastic
decrease in the neutrophil counts in blood