The Neuropathology Of Zombies (10 page)

“In regards to Igor, his blood smear was impossible to evaluate, it was totally autolyzed, meaning it was completely broken down, it looked like the fluid found in decomposed bodies. We did a quick frozen section on Igor’s skin. This involves freezing a small piece of skin in liquid nitrogen, and then staining it, so we can see the cells under a microscope. It is not ideal because the freezing process creates a lot of artifact, but we were still able to see a few interesting things. First, the top layer of the skin is slipping away, very similar to decomposition. Furthermore, there are some interesting acute inflammatory changes present between the upper and lower layers of the skin, I’m not sure what to make of it yet. We have access to a tissue processor. The processor will better preserve the samples allowing us to see more detail under the microscope, but it will take several hours to work. We hope to have more samples by the end of the day, so we’ll run the processor overnight,” I paused and took a drink of water. I thought I was doing alright, everyone was still paying attention, or at least they were all still awake.
“Also, I made some general observations from the roof of the hospital while I was waiting to fly back here. I noticed the Driftwood have quite a bit of difficulty walking. Their gait is awkward, their legs are far apart and their feet hardly leave the ground when they walk. They’re hunched over and their arms just hang at their sides. Their movements lack any real sense purposefulness and they appear to only respond to stimuli in the form of food, movement, or sound. They behave almost like reptiles in this regard. They don’t show signs of aggression toward one another, and will only attack living ‘fresh’ flesh. They seem to locate food by smell. All of the things I have observed to this point suggest a pathologic process affecting the nervous system, either central or peripheral, or both.
“The facility at the hospital is adequate for what we need. The pathology lab is set up to run a multitude of blood tests, and we have several pieces of equipment that can make microscopic slides.
“There is a fairly advanced microbiology lab that will allow us to grow bacteria and test for some common viruses. If this turns out to be a virus, we will need to send samples to someone else; we’re just not able to do exotic testing here on the Island.
“The path department also has a very advanced toxicology setup. It should be easy enough for us to test samples for any sort of toxin. I wonder, General Fitch, if it might be possible to obtain the services of a toxicologist?” I asked. The General nodded his head.
“There is a morgue with a single autopsy table and a body storage cooler that can hold around twenty bodies. We made an interesting discovery while exploring the morgue; we found 2 Driftwood in the storage cooler. They were eating the remains of a third body that was in the cooler with them. According to the morgue’s log, the 2 Driftwood came from the Marina Star Hotel shortly before the outbreak began. The third body was from a patient who died in the hospital.
“At this point I’m convinced that whatever is occurring, originated at the hotel. My two top hypotheses are a virus or a toxin. General Fitch, it’s imperative that I go to the hotel. We’ll need water samples, air samples, and who knows what else, but we need to get in there, soon.” I concluded my monologue and sat back down.
“Thank you doctor, you’ve made some progress and we are thankful. I understand about the need to investigate the hotel, we’ll take it under consideration. I’ll also see about getting you a toxicologist,” the general replied. “Madame Governor, do you have anything to add?” he continued.
“Yes, General, thank you, and thank you all for coming to the aide of the people of the Island. It is quite obvious that we have our hands full. I agree that bringing the cartel into our group will be an advantage. I know the young man running the organization; I have known him since he was a boy. I can tell you the best way to approach him. I am not sure how willing he will be to assist us, but I believe he will listen, especially if you have something to offer him.
“I also fear the worst for our native population and for our visitors, and I am saddened by this. The full resources of the Island, or what’s left of them, are at your disposal and I again thank you all for your efforts,” she finished and sat down. Her voice was strong and her words were sincere. She gave a face to our challenge, and I think that everyone in the room felt a connection with her, and a strong desire to help, it was obvious she was hurting.
“Alright then, let’s get to work. Security, what’s your next objective?” the General asked.
“We’ll continue to monitor the roads and surrounding waterways and we’ll continue our flyovers. The current density of Driftwood within the town center makes it impossible for ground patrols as this time, but that is an objective we intend to pursue.
“We’ll continue to observe the airport and will use the advice given to us by Madam Governor to contact the leader of the cartel and maintain our presence at the command barracks and at the hospital.
“We would like to be involved in the planning of any excursion into the hotel and we would also recommend the extermination of the Driftwood discovered at the hospital,” the Major said, looking at me, “Sorry, Doctor.”
He continued, “We have made observations indicating that the Driftwood are beginning to disperse throughout the town, leaving the streets much less crowded. They’re entering various buildings and seem to be slowing their moments. We have observed several sitting in cars, standing in place, and wandering at a much slower pace. If this activity continues, it may become safe to perform street patrols. We would like the authority to do so if we feel it is the time is appropriate.” As he finished speaking Major Thomas nodded to the search and rescue team leader, indicating it was his turn to address the room.
The security officer rose, and began to speak, “We’ll continue to station ourselves at the observation towers outside of town in hopes of finding more survivors. We will also continue our flyovers looking for any signs of life.
“We would also like to coordinate with security and the local police to search the caves. Given our observations to this point, I have serious doubts that we will find additional survivors. However, the recent event at the hospital has given us some optimism.” The officer looked at me with an uncomfortable smile.
He then continued to speak, “As the security team has stated, the density of Driftwood in the streets is much less than it has been, so we would also like to perform street patrols in order to identify any survivors.”
The General nodded his head, “Thank you, that all sounds excellent. Now, for the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the man who is going to stop this slaughter, Dr. Hawk. No pressure, or anything, Doc.”
Everyone turned to look at me. I stood and I began with the first thing that popped into my head, “Well, I still don’t know what we are dealing with, a virus or a toxin. We need to explore the hotel and take samples for further studies. At the hotel I will need access to the air ducts, the water supply, the pool, and the kitchen, as well as the rooms of the two Driftwood we found at the hospital. I would also like to see the room where Igor was attacked.
“We should continue to observe Igor. I would like additional blood and skin samples from him, especially as his condition progresses.
“As for the two Driftwood at the hospital, I don’t think we should exterminate them, necessarily, immediately. They’re secure in the cooler, and aren’t going anywhere. I think we should use them for additional studies,” I shrugged at the security officer. “Our use of Igor is limited somewhat by his location, we really can’t transport him to the hospital, but we now have two specimens on-site. I suggest we take advantage of that situation. I would like to sample other tissues, and the two Driftwood in the cooler would be perfect for that purpose.
“Also, I would like to collect one or two recently killed Driftwood, as soon as possible, so that I can autopsy them and see what is going on internally. If I can get that done this afternoon, I can run any biological samples in the tissue processor overnight, along with the skin samples we took from Igor. We can also use autopsy tissue for viral and microbial cultures,” I said, extending my arm in the direction of the virologist seated at the table beside me.
“I think that’s all I have at this point. I would suggest keeping an eye out for anyone appearing sick, and report it immediately; we don’t know what this is, or how it’s transmitted, yet,” I finished and thanked General Fitch.
The man in the black suit was still standing in the corner, up to this point he had made no effort to communicate. His eyes moved from speaker to speaker as the team leaders described their progress, but he revealed no expression, and was almost non-existent. His monotone and gruff voice came out of nowhere, “Doctor, I have one question for you.”
“Yes, sir, go ahead,” I replied, focusing my eyes on his.
“You were brought here because you have a unique perspective on situations similar to the one we are all currently suffering through. I am referring of course, to your scientific opinion regarding zombies. I understand the reluctance to use such a term, but in reality, isn’t that exactly what we are dealing with? I would ask, sir, that you explain your theory so that everyone in the room can benefit,” he said, his eyes locked on mine.
“Well, yes, I could explain, a bit I suppose,” I felt as though I was stuttering. I was not sure where to begin.
I looked around the room, “You all have to understand, my zombie theory was a gag. I have an unhealthy addiction to horror films and one afternoon, close to Halloween, I was watching a zombie movie, I forget which one, when I became intrigued by their behavior. I consider myself more than just a forensic pathologist, I am a scientist and more specifically, a neuroscientist. The zombie portrayed in films has a number of neurologic lesions. I devised my theory and decided to explain it to the medical students and residents as a joke lecture leading up to Halloween. It was a way to, you know, beat the stress, have some fun, and teach them some neuroscience. Mid-terms were coming up; I thought they needed a break. I never for one second considered that zombies might actually exist,” I took a deep breath, and another drink of water.
“Yes, I think that is understood,” spoke the man in the black suit. “However, as I am sure you are aware, sir, a significant number of scientific breakthroughs have had their origins in science fiction. Please, doctor, continue,” he held his hand out to me indicating that I should go on with my story.
“Well, in my theory, the zombie has several lesions in its brain. In my talk I hypothesize that the symptoms are the result of a viral infection. The virus is shed in the saliva and other body fluids, which is how it enters the unsuspecting victim via a bite from a zombie. The virus then travels in the blood and enters the brain where it damages key regions, particularly areas involved in awareness, movement and aggression.
“Once infected, the individual will feel fine for a few hours. Then, as the virus replicates, and triggers the body’s immune response, the victim will begin to experience fevers, chills, nausea, and all the other feelings one would associate with a typical viral infection. As the virus begins to invade the brain and its coverings, the person will have severe headaches and eventually develop seizures.
“Observers would note the skin changing color from the normal healthy tone, to a dull, waxy hue.
“As the afflicted individual continues to worsen, and becomes more dehydrated, the eyes begin to sink in and the cheeks are drawn in, giving the appearance of prominent facial bones.
“The time course for these changes is variable and dependent on the initial viral load delivered at the time of exposure, or through the bite. If a lot of virus gets into the blood through a particularly vicious bite, then the time curse will be rapid, and the symptoms will develop quickly. If on the other hand, the wound is just a nip, then the course could be more protracted.
“Regardless, once in the brain, the virus has a particular affinity for nuclei, which are large clusters of neurons, or nerve cells that are concentrated in particular places in the brain. There are many different nuclei in the human brain, each with a specific function. In my zombie, the virus causes injury to the medial regions of the temporal lobes, or the inside area of the temporal lobes. The temporal lobe is that bit that comes out and rests behind your ears. Included in this region of the brain is the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for the feeling of fear. In reality, individuals with lesions in this region of the brain develop something called KluverBucy syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by diminished fear, eating inappropriate things, or over eating, a compulsion to examine things by mouth, and hypersexuality. In the zombie model, the sex is lost, obviously.
“With Kluver-Bucy syndrome the affected individual is typically very tame due to the loss of the amygdala. However, in the zombie model, the amygdala is only partially lesioned, and is actually hyper-functioning. The outward expressions of aggression are due to the loss of control from the cortex. The cortex is the outside part of the brain and it exerts some control over the deeper parts of the brain. With the normal aggression response, the cortex will stop the impulse generated by the amygdala and give us a minute to stop and think about it, before we beat the shit out of someone. In the zombie, this connection between the cortex and the amygdala is lost, so you get symptoms of Kluver-Bucy syndrome with the potential for extreme aggression.
“Movement is also a major issue with zombies. In my model, the virus infects and destroys neurons in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia of the brain. The cerebellum is where a significant amount of balance control comes from. Think back to times when you have been out drinking and watched your friends stumble around drunk, that’s the cerebellum, alcohol interferes with the cerebellum’s ability to control balance.
“The basal ganglia are nuclei deep located in middle the brain. They help us with truncal movements. Lesions in the basal ganglia create the classic movement disorders like Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The basal ganglia help to swing your arm over to get the glass of water in front of you,” I demonstrated by uncoordinatedly swinging my arm towards the glass of water resting in front of me. “The input from the cortex allows you to gently pick up the glass, and not smash it like Frankenstein,” I said as I lifted the glass to my lips and took a drink.