Fungal and Parasitic Infections USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 63 year old asplenic man from Massachusetts presents in July with fever, malaise, and dark urine. He does not recall international travel. Laboratory studies show hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Peripheral blood smear reveals intraerythrocytic ring forms, and some erythrocytes contain tetrads arranged in a Maltese cross pattern. Which of the following organisms is the most likely cause of this patient’s illness?
Answer choices
- ABabesia microtiCorrect answer
- BBorrelia burgdorferi
- CAnaplasma phagocytophilum
- DPlasmodium falciparum
- EBartonella henselae
- FBabesia divergens
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