A 30-year-old man presents with painless progressive ulceration of the genitalia with beefy-red granulation tissue and no lymphadenopathy. Tissue smear shows large mononuclear cells containing intracytoplasmic cyst-like bodies. What are these called?
- A Negri bodies
- B Guarnieiri bodies
- C Donovan bodies ✓
- D Cowdry type A inclusions
Correct answer: C. Donovan bodies
Explanation
Granuloma inguinale (donovanosis) is caused by Klebsiella granulomatis (formerly Calymmatobacterium granulomatis) and presents as progressive, painless, beefy-red granulomatous ulceration of the genitalia with the characteristic absence of lymphadenopathy (pseudo-bubo may occur due to subcutaneous granuloma). The diagnostic hallmark is Donovan bodies, which are intracytoplasmic encapsulated bipolar-staining organisms ('safety-pin' appearance) within large mononuclear cells (macrophages) seen on tissue smear or biopsy.
Reference: Neena Khanna Illustrated Synopsis of Dermatology & STD, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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