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Monthy Case Studies - 2002
Case #85 - June, 2002
A 37-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital through the ER and died within a few days. Before she died, blood and serum specimens were obtained. A western blot test performed postmortem revealed that the woman was positive for HIV-1 antibodies. An autopsy was performed to determine the cause of death. The images shown below were captured from postmortem brain tissue sections stained with H & E (hematoxylin and eosin). The objects seen measured 8 to 10 micrometers in diameter (Figure A, 500× and Figure B, 1000×). What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?
Figure A
Figure B
Answer to Case #85
This was a case of toxoplasmosis, caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Diagnostic features observed included:
- the anatomical location of cysts in the brain.
- spherical cyst structures containing many bradyzoites is consistent with T. gondii. When present in brain tissue, these cysts are usually spherical.
Note: Serological and molecular testing is sometimes necessary to rule out the possibility of the cysts structures' being nests of amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, which can also be found in brain tissue, especially in immunosuppressed patients.
More on: Toxoplasmosis
Images presented in the monthly case studies are from specimens submitted for diagnosis or archiving. On rare occasions, clinical histories given may be partly fictitious.
