Problem: A 50-year-old woman meets with her primary care physician for a recurrent bacterial infection. She exhibits ulcers in the mouth and throat, fever, chills, muscle weakness and fatigue. The physician suspects agranulocytosis and orders a laboratory test for a differential count.
A reduction in which cell type would best explain the recurrent infection?
a. Neutrophil
b. Basophil
c. Lymphocyte
d. Eosinophil
e. Mast Cell