A 48-Year-Old Man Is Evaluated for Shortness of Breath and Dry

A 48-year-old man is evaluated for shortness of breath and dry cough for 1 week.  The patient has never had similar symptoms in the past and takes no medications.  He has a 5-pack-year smoking history and does not use alcohol or illicit drugs.  The patient is a pig farmer in Ohio and has not traveled recently.  Temperature is 37.8 C (100 F) , blood pressure is 128/85 mm Hg, pulse is 95/min, and respirations are 16/min.  Lung auscultation reveals scattered wheezing and crackles.  Peripheral blood smear is shown below. The nucleated cells seen on this patient's peripheral smear most likely perform which of the following functions?

A) Bacterial opsonization
B) Destruction of helminths
C) Inhibition of fungal growth
D) Killing of virus-infected cells
E) Stimulation of fibroblasts

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