Viral Infections · Pathology

A biopsy of the brain in a patient with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) shows viral inclusions in which cell type?

  1. Microglial cells
  2. Reactive astrocytes
  3. Oligodendrocytes
  4. Ependymal cells
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Correct answer: Oligodendrocytes

PML is caused by the JC polyomavirus, which selectively infects and destroys oligodendrocytes in immunocompromised patients. This leads to the characteristic patchy demyelination of the central nervous system.

Difficulty: Medium Question 7 of 20

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