A 67 -year-old pig farmer presents to you complaining of the sudden appearance o

Question

A 67 -year-old pig farmer presents to you complaining of the sudden appearance of jerking movements in her extremities, a constant headache and nausea. Your examination reveals multiple cysts at the junction of the grey and white matter in her brain, some containing the head of an immature worm. You obtain the following labs:

Protein Electrophoresis: Oligoclonal Bands: NEG                          Serum Assay: Sodium: NORMAL                  

Peripheral Blood Smear: Eosinophilia:POS                                     Glucose:NORMAL

Gram Neg organisms: NONE

1. Which pig-borne condition should be at the top of your differential diagnosis list because it commonly affects the brain?

A. Protein                                              B. Cysticercosis

C. Echinococcosis                                 D. Contralateral upper extremity and facial weakness

E. Fourth Ventricle (Area Postrema)

Explanation / Answer

Question: 1. Which pig-borne condition should be at the top of your differential diagnosis list because it commonly affects the brain?

Answer: B. Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis is caused by a parasite called Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm. Pig is the intermediate host. Neurocysticercosis is a specific form of cysticercosis which affects the brain and cause neurological symptoms. When it affects the brain, the infection causes the formation of cysts within the brain.

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