USMLE · Question #588
A 35-year-old male comes to the physician due to fatigue. He recently returned from a trip to Japan. Laboratory results are as follows: Hemoglobin " 9 g/dL - Mean corpuscular volume " 108 fl MCHC "…
The correct answer is A. Diphyllobothrium latum. Diphyllobothrium latum is a tapeworm which can cause vitamin B12 deficiency because it competes for this vitamin in the small intestine. Infection with this tapeworm occurs after consumption of raw or undercooked fresh water fish. Vitamin B12 deficiency may occur in infected…
Question
A 35-year-old male comes to the physician due to fatigue. He recently returned from a trip to Japan. Laboratory results are as follows:
Hemoglobin " 9 g/dL - Mean corpuscular volume " 108 fl MCHC " 33 g/dL - Mean corpuscular hemoglobin " 35 pg A peripheral blood smear is obtained which reveals enlarged red blood cells and hypersegmented neutrophils. These findings were most likely caused by
Options
- ADiphyllobothrium latum
- BEchinococcus granulosus
- COnchocerca volvulus
- DSchistosoma haematobium
- ETaenia solium
How the community answered
(61 responses)- A75% (46)
- B2% (1)
- C3% (2)
- D7% (4)
- E13% (8)
Explanation
Diphyllobothrium latum is a tapeworm which can cause vitamin B12 deficiency because it competes for this vitamin in the small intestine. Infection with this tapeworm occurs after consumption of raw or undercooked fresh water fish. Vitamin B12 deficiency may occur in infected patients and presents with fatigue due to the macrocytic megaloblastic anemia with hypersegmented neutrophils. Treatment of the infection is with praziquantel.
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