Page 75 - MNU-PM503 Parasitology practical book
P. 75
Pharm D- Clinical Pharmacy Program Third Level Parasitology and virology (PM503)
Case study (10):
A hunter prepared dried jerky from fresh bear meat and provided some to a group of
friends. Most developed moderate to severe abdominal pain, nausea, and fatigue within
48 hours. Some of the bear meat was submitted for laboratory testing. Muscle biopsy
was performed. The biopsied muscles were examined by the pressure method using
two slide glasses. Roundly coiled nematode larvae were detected in the gastrocnemius
muscle of a patient at 34 days after eating raw badger flesh. Larvae were measured to
be 0.775-1.050 (0.908 in average) mm in length, and 0.026-0.042 (0.035 in average)
mm in the maximum width. In sectioned specimen of the biopsied muscle, the worm
cyst was surrounded by numerous inflammatory cells and a nurse cell-larva complex
was observed.
QUESTIONS:
1. What organism is most likely responsible for the patient's illness?
2. Describe the life cycle of this parasite.
3. What is the infective stage?
4. How is this infection transmitted?
5. How is the diagnosis made?
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