Question

A 44 year old man was admitted to the hospital following a 2 week history of low grade fever, malaise, and anorexia. Examination of a Giemsa stained blood film revealed many intraerythrocytic parasites. Further history revealed frequent camping trips near Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island, but no travel outside the continental United States. This parasite could easily be confused with:_________.

a. Babesia microti
b. Leishmania donovani
c. Plasmodium ovale
d. Toxoplasma gondii
e. none of these

Answer 1

Answer: OPTION C (Plasmodium ovale)

Explanation: The symptoms of the infection is also seen in the listed intraerythrocytic protozoans in the options. However, the travel history of the man establishes that the man wasn't exposed to an intraerythrocytic protozoans which isn't endemic in the United States, and considering the man's trip around vineyard and island which can serve as breeding site of mosquitoes (vector of Plasmodium spp) makes this parasite easily confused with Plasmodium ovale.