A CT-scan of the brain in an otherwise normal patient (that…

A CT-scan of the brain in an otherwise normal patient (that is, not immunosuppressed) reveals an apparent abscess in the brain.  This finding leads to a spinal tap to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for lab testing.   Which of the following CSF findings would be MOST consistent with an acute (i.e., current) infection by Toxoplasma gondii in this brain abscess:

A patient is diagnosed with secondary syphilis (their RPR ti…

A patient is diagnosed with secondary syphilis (their RPR titer is positive at 1:64 and their treponemal antigen- particle agglutination (TP-PA) is positive).  The patient is treated with the intention of cure, with penicillin.  The best follow up test at one month after treatment, to monitor the effectiveness of therapy and ensure that the patient was not re-infected, would be:

A patient presents with signs of secondary syphilis; there i…

A patient presents with signs of secondary syphilis; there is no past history of syphilis.  A rapid plasma reagin (RPR) screen is positive; the RPR is titered, revealing positivity at a dilution of 1:64.    Of the following, the next laboratory assay to perform is the following confirmation test:

A patient presents with glomerulonephritis and has a recent…

A patient presents with glomerulonephritis and has a recent history of a sore throat which has since resolved.  The patient’s doctor suspects post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and wants to order laboratory testing to determine if the patient has had a recent Group A streptococcal infection.  Which of the following are the BEST two tests to detect recent Group A streptococcal infection?