Question
35-year-old man presents with the sudden onset of tonicclonicseizures and dies the following day. The brain at autopsy is shown in the image. This patient most likely contracted which of the following infectious diseases?
| A. |
Aspergillosis
|
| B. |
Clonorchiasis
|
| C. |
Cysticercosis
|
| D. |
Fascioliasis
|
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer � C
Explanation
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|
Answer : C Cysticercosis
The condition described in the question is cysticercosis.Pigs acquire cysticerci by ingesting eggs of Taenia solium shed in human feces. However, when humans accidentally ingest the eggs from human feces and become infected with cysticerci, the consequences may be catastrophic.
The eggs release oncospheres, which penetrate the wall of the gut, enter the bloodstream, lodge in tissues, and differentiate to cysticerci.
The cysticercus is a spherical milky white cyst of about 1 cm in diameter that contains fluid and an invaginated scolex (head of the worm).
Viable cysts can be shelled out from the infected tissue.
Multiple cysticerci in the brain may impart a “Swiss cheese” appearance and manifest clinically as headaches and seizures.
The other worms do not infect the brain. Aspergillosis of the brain is distinctly uncommon.
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