Trematodes (flukes) — MCQs

A 19-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with chronic diarrhea, fatigue, and weakness. She also had mild lower extremity edema. On examination, she was noted to be pale. Blood testing revealed peripheral eosinophilia (60%) and a Hb concentration of 8 g/dL. The stool examination revealed Fasciolopsis buski eggs. Which of the following drugs would most likely be effective?

A 67-year-old male presents to his primary care physician for evaluation of fever and an unintended weight loss of 25 pounds over the last 4 months. He also has decreased appetite and complains of abdominal pain located in the right upper quadrant. The patient has not noticed any changes in stool or urine. He emigrated from Malaysia to the United States one year prior. Social history reveals that he smokes half a pack per day and has 5-7 drinks of alcohol per day. The patient is up to date on all of his vaccinations. Physical exam findings include mild jaundice as well as an enlarged liver edge that is tender to palpation. Based on clinical suspicion, biomarker labs are sent and show polycythemia and an elevated alpha fetoprotein level but a normal CA 19-9 level. Surface antigen for hepatitis B is negative. Ultrasound reveals a normal sized gallbladder. Given this presentation, which of the following organisms was most likely associated with the development of disease in this patient?

A 30-year-old man presents to the physician after he discovered a raised, red, string-shaped lesion beneath the skin on his right foot. The lesion seems to move from one location to another over the dorsum of his foot from day to day. He says that the lesion is extremely itchy and has not responded to over the counter topical treatment. He and his wife recently returned from a honeymoon in southern Thailand, where they frequented the tropical beaches. The physician diagnoses him with a parasitic infection and prescribes albendazole for the patient. With which of the following organisms is the patient most likely infected?

A 68-year-old man presents to his physician for symptoms of chronic weight loss, abdominal bloating, and loose stools. He notes that he has also been bothered by a chronic cough. The patient’s laboratory work-up includes a WBC differential, which is remarkable for an eosinophil count of 9%. Stool samples are obtained, with ova and parasite examination revealing roundworm larvae in the stool and no eggs. Which of the following parasitic worms is the cause of this patient’s condition?

A 32-year-old woman presents to your office with abdominal pain and bloating over the last month. She also complains of intermittent, copious, non-bloody diarrhea over the same time. Last month, she had a cough that has since improved but has not completely resolved. She has no sick contacts and has not left the country recently. She denies any myalgias, itching, or rashes. Physical and laboratory evaluations are unremarkable. Examination of her stool reveals the causative organism. This organism is most likely transmitted to the human host through which of the following routes?

A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency room complaining of severe nausea and vomiting. He returned from a business trip to Nigeria five days ago. Since then, he has developed progressively worsening fevers, headache, nausea, and vomiting. He has lost his appetite and cannot hold down food or water. He did not receive any vaccinations before traveling. His medical history is notable for alcohol abuse and peptic ulcer disease for which he takes omeprazole regularly. His temperature is 103.0°F (39.4°C), blood pressure is 100/70 mmHg, pulse is 128/min, and respirations are 22/min. Physical examination reveals scleral icterus, hepatomegaly, and tenderness to palpation in the right and left upper quadrants. While in the examination room, he vomits up dark vomitus. The patient is admitted and started on multiple anti-protozoal and anti-bacterial medications. Serology studies are pending; however, the patient dies soon after admission. The virus that likely gave rise to this patient’s condition is part of which of the following families?

A 45-year-old man with a history of poorly controlled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection presents to the emergency room complaining of clumsiness and weakness. He reports a 3-month history of worsening balance, asymmetric muscle weakness, and speech difficulties. He recently returned from a trip to Guatemala to visit his family. He has been poorly compliant with his anti-retroviral therapy and his most recent CD4 count was 195. His history is also notable for rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis C. His temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg, pulse is 95/min, and respirations are 18/min. On exam, he has 4/5 strength in his right upper extremity, 5/5 strength in his left upper extremity, 5/5 strength in his right lower extremity, and 3/5 strength in his left lower extremity. His speech is disjointed with intermittent long pauses between words. Vision is 20/100 in the left eye and 20/40 in his right eye; previously, his eyesight was 20/30 bilaterally. This patient most likely has a condition caused by which of the following types of pathogens?

A 27-year-old woman comes to the physician for a 1-week-history of painful urination and urinary frequency. She has no history of serious illness and takes no medications. She is sexually active with her boyfriend. Her temperature is 36.7°C (98.1°F). There is no costovertebral angle tenderness. Urine dipstick shows leukocyte esterase. A Gram stain does not show any organisms. Which of the following is the most likely causal pathogen?

A 4-year-old girl presents with recurrent abdominal pain and a low-grade fever for the past 2 months. The patient’s mother says that she has lost her appetite which has caused some recent weight loss. She adds that the patient frequently plays outdoors with their pet dog. The patient is afebrile and vital signs are within normal limits. On physical examination, conjunctival pallor is present. Abdominal examination reveals a diffusely tender abdomen and significant hepatomegaly. There is also a solid mass palpable in the right upper quadrant measuring about 3 x 4 cm. Laboratory findings are significant for the following: Hemoglobin (Hb%) 9.9 g/dL Total count (WBC) 26,300/µL Differential count Neutrophils 36% Lymphocytes 16% Eosinophils 46% Platelets 200,000/mm3 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 56 mm/h C-reactive protein 2 mg/L Serum globulins 5 g/dL Laparoscopic resection of the mass is performed, and a tissue sample is sent for histopathology. Which of the following is the organism most likely responsible for this patient’s condition?

A 35-year-old man from Thailand presents with low-grade fever, chronic cough, and night sweats for 3 months. He describes the cough as productive and producing white sputum that is sometimes streaked with blood. He also says he has lost 10 lb in the last 3 months. Past medical history is unremarkable. The patient denies any smoking history, alcohol, or recreational drug use. The vital signs include blood pressure 115/75 mm Hg, heart rate 120/min, respiratory rate 20/min, and temperature 36.6℃ (97.8℉). On physical examination, the patient is ill-looking and thin with no pallor or jaundice. Cardiopulmonary auscultation reveals some fine crackles in the right upper lobe. A chest radiograph reveals a right upper lobe homogeneous density. Which of the following tests would be most helpful in making a definitive diagnosis of active infection in this patient?