Fungal and Parasitic Infections USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 32-year-old woman returns from Nigeria with 3 weeks of cyclic fevers (39.2°C), headache, and jaundice. She did not take malaria prophylaxis. Vital signs show HR 102/min, BP 118/76 mmHg, RR 18/min, SpO2 98% on room air. Examination reveals scleral icterus and mild confusion. Laboratory studies show hemoglobin 9.8 g/dL and indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Peripheral blood smear demonstrates multiple delicate ring forms within erythrocytes. Which organism is most likely responsible?
Answer choices
- APlasmodium vivax
- BTrypanosoma cruzi
- CLeishmania donovani
- DPlasmodium falciparumCorrect answer
- EBabesia microti
- FPlasmodium malariae
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