A patient presented with fever, mild anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The peripheral blood smear showed the presence of intracellular organisms that were present as singles, doubles, and tetrads. What is the most likely identification of the organism?
A) Plasmodium falciparum
B) Babesia microti
C) Bartonella bacilliformis
D) Trypanosoma cruzi

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of intracellular organisms in the peripheral blood smear, with singles, doubles, and tetrads, is most characteristic of Babesia microti. Fever, mild anemia, and thrombocytopenia are all common clinical features of babesiosis. Plasmodium falciparum can also cause fever, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, but the appearance of its intracellular parasites in the peripheral blood smear is distinctly different (ring forms). Bartonella bacilliformis causes a disease known as Carrion's disease, with fever, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, but it is not typically associated with intracellular parasites in the peripheral blood smear. Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, which is characterized by fever, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, but the intracellular parasites in this disease are typically found in tissue rather than blood samples.

A Patient Presented with Fever, Mild Anemia, and Thrombocytopenia