A young man who works on a ranch and lives in the log bunkhouse experiences sudden fever with muscle aches. A few days later he begins to cough and have difficulty breathing, and goes to an urgent care clinic. A blood sample reveals a high leukocyte count and low platelets. A Gram-stain of a sputum sample shows only a few small bacteria present. Which of the following is the most likely infecting agent?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms and laboratory findings suggest a possible case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which is caused by the Hantavirus. The fever, muscle aches, cough, and difficulty breathing are characteristic of HPS. The high leukocyte count and low platelets are also consistent with HPS. The small number of bacteria seen on Gram-stain suggests a viral infection, rather than a bacterial one. Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax, which has different symptoms, while Histoplasma capsulatum and Mycoplasma pneumonia may cause similar symptoms but are less likely based on the laboratory findings. Influenza may also cause similar symptoms, but the laboratory findings do not point towards influenza.

A Young Man Who Works on a Ranch and Lives