A 16-year-old boy is hospitalized with recent-onset insomnia, headaches, periodic agitation, and dysphagia. He is a high school student interested in becoming a veterinarian. He owns a snake, fish, and parrot and, about 4 weeks ago, went on a field trip to study bats in a cave. The patient has no known medical problems and is not taking any medications. He does not consume alcohol and has never used illicit drugs. Physical examination shows a confused and combative patient with mydriasis and neck rigidity. Which of the following acts as an entry receptor for the causative agent of this patient's condition?

Question

A 16-year-old boy is hospitalized with recent-onset insomnia, headaches, periodic agitation, and dysphagia.  He is a high school student interested in becoming a veterinarian.  He owns a snake, fish, and parrot and, about 4 weeks ago, went on a field trip to study bats in a cave.  The patient has no known medical problems and is not taking any medications.  He does not consume alcohol and has never used illicit drugs.  Physical examination shows a confused and combative patient with mydriasis and neck rigidity.  Which of the following acts as an entry receptor for the causative agent of this patient's condition?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Rabies virus has a bullet-shaped envelope with knob-like glycoproteins that bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.  Once transmission occurs (usually due to a bite wound from an infected animal), the virus replicates locally in muscle tissue for several days or weeks before spreading in a retrograde fashion through the peripheral nerve axons to the central nervous system.

A 16-Year-Old Boy Is Hospitalized with Recent-Onset Insomnia, Headaches, Periodic