Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes a systemic disease?

Accepted Answer

A disease in which pathogens are carried throughout the body by blood and lymph, affecting the entire body.

Question 2

Sepsis is a dangerous condition because:

Accepted Answer

It causes extensive inflammation throughout the body, potentially leading to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

Question 3

Which bacterium is responsible for causing plague?

Accepted Answer

Yersinia pestis

Question 4

Bubonic plague is characterized by which of the following symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Enlarged lymph nodes

Question 5

If untreated, what is the fatality rate of pneumonic plague?

Accepted Answer

100%

Question 6

Which of the following is the correct transmission route for Lyme disease?

Accepted Answer

Bite of an infected tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Question 7

A patient presents with a bull's-eye rash, neurological symptoms, and severe arthritis. Which disease is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Lyme Disease

Question 8

Which of the following events contributed to the increase in Lyme disease cases in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Movement of human populations into woodland areas

Question 9

Tularemia is caused by which bacterium, and what is a key feature of its pathogenesis?

Accepted Answer

Francisella tularensis; small size allows entry through seemingly unbroken skin

Question 10

Alpha-gal syndrome is associated with which vector and what allergic reaction?

Accepted Answer

Tick; allergic reaction to red meat

Question 11

Malaria is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted by which vector?

Accepted Answer

Anopheles mosquito

Question 12

Which Nobel Prize-winning scientist used an old Chinese medicine to treat drug-resistant malaria?

Accepted Answer

Tu Youyou

Question 13

African Viral Hemorrhagic Fever is primarily caused by which viruses?

Accepted Answer

Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus

Question 14

Which of the following is a major challenge in studying Ebola virus?

Accepted Answer

It is a BSL4 virus, requiring high-level containment.

Question 15

Toxoplasmosis is caused by which organism, and what is the definitive host?

Accepted Answer

Toxoplasma gondii; cats

Question 16

Which population is most at risk for severe symptoms of toxoplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with poor immunity, pregnant women, and fetuses

Question 17

Chagas’ Disease is caused by which protozoan and transmitted by which vector?

Accepted Answer

Trypanosoma cruzi; Triatoma bug

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why prevention of toxoplasmosis is difficult?

Accepted Answer

Toxoplasma gondii has numerous hosts.

Question 19

Which of the following equations best represents the calculation of case fatality rate (CFR) for a disease?

Accepted Answer

$	ext{CFR} = \frac{	ext{Number of deaths}}{	ext{Total number of cases}} 	imes 100$

Question 20

Which of the following is a common feature of both Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Both are caused by bacteria that live inside infected cells and are transmitted by ticks.

Major Systemic Microbial Diseases: Pathogenesis, Transmission, and Control

Study Guide - Practice Questions