Question 1

A pathologist claims it's much easier to determine the causative agent of meningitis than an infection of the skin or intestines. Is this true? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A)  It's not true-an infection is an infection, and it's always difficult to track down the exact causative agent. The organ system involved in the illness has nothing to do with identification of the causative agent. 
B)  It's true-because the central nervous system (CNS) is generally microbe free, whereas the skin and intestines have a diverse normal flora. Separating out a pathogenic causative agent from the normal flora in these areas would be much harder to do than in the CNS. 
C)  It's not true-the ventricles of the brain can provide a direct route for microbes to enter the central nervous system (CNS) from the bloodstream/extracellular fluid. Therefore, it would be just as likely to find a pathogenic microbe in the CNS as it would be in the skin or intestines. 
D)  It's true-there are only 1 or 2 microbes that can cause meningitis, yet there are hundreds (if not thousands) that can cause skin/intestinal infections. This makes it much easier to determine the causative agent for a case of meningitis. 
A)  It's not true-an infection is an infection, and it's always difficult to track down the exact causative agent. The organ system involved in the illness has nothing to do with identification of the causative agent. 
B)  It's true-because the central nervous system (CNS) is generally microbe free, whereas the skin and intestines have a diverse normal flora. Separating out a pathogenic causative agent from the normal flora in these areas would be much harder to do than in the CNS. 
C)  It's not true-the ventricles of the brain can provide a direct route for microbes to enter the central nervous system (CNS) from the bloodstream/extracellular fluid. Therefore, it would be just as likely to find a pathogenic microbe in the CNS as it would be in the skin or intestines. 
D)  It's true-there are only 1 or 2 microbes that can cause meningitis, yet there are hundreds (if not thousands) that can cause skin/intestinal infections. This makes it much easier to determine the causative agent for a case of meningitis.

Question 2

The nerves that carry information to the CNS are termed

Accepted Answer

A)  motor nerves. 
B)  endocrine nerves. 
C)  sensory nerves. 
D)  cerebrospinal nerves. 
A)  motor nerves. 
B)  endocrine nerves. 
C)  sensory nerves. 
D)  cerebrospinal nerves.

Question 3

Leprosy is

Accepted Answer

A)  an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. 
B)  a disease of the blood. 
C)  also known as Hansen's disease. 
D)  described in the Bible. 
E)  an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, also known as Hansen's disease AND described in the Bible. 
A)  an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. 
B)  a disease of the blood. 
C)  also known as Hansen's disease. 
D)  described in the Bible. 
E)  an infectious disease caused by a bacterium, also known as Hansen's disease AND described in the Bible.

Question 4

All cases of paralytic polio acquired in the U.S. between 1980 and 1999 were caused by Sabin's polio vaccine.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Meningococcal meningitis is typically acquired through the

Accepted Answer

A)  genitourinary tract. 
B)  respiratory tract. 
C)  gastrointestinal tract. 
D)  skin. 
A)  genitourinary tract. 
B)  respiratory tract. 
C)  gastrointestinal tract. 
D)  skin.

Question 6

The transmission of leprosy is by

Accepted Answer

A)  direct human-to-human contact. 
B)  the fecal-oral route. 
C)  contact with infected blood products. 
D)  contact with infected nasal secretions. 
E)  direct human-to-human contact AND contact with infected nasal secretions. 
A)  direct human-to-human contact. 
B)  the fecal-oral route. 
C)  contact with infected blood products. 
D)  contact with infected nasal secretions. 
E)  direct human-to-human contact AND contact with infected nasal secretions.

Question 7

Which is true of listeriosis?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a foodborne disease. 
B)  It may result in meningitis. 
C)  It is usually asymptomatic in healthy people. 
D)  It is caused by an organism that can grow at refrigerator temperatures. 
E)  All of the choices are correct. 
A)  It is a foodborne disease. 
B)  It may result in meningitis. 
C)  It is usually asymptomatic in healthy people. 
D)  It is caused by an organism that can grow at refrigerator temperatures. 
E)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 8

The incubation period of rabies is partially determined by

Accepted Answer

A)  age of the patient. 
B)  season of the year that the disease is acquired. 
C)  length of journey from the bite site to the brain. 
D)  the amount of virus introduced into the wound. 
E)  length of journey from the bite site to the brain AND the amount of virus introduced into the wound. 
A)  age of the patient. 
B)  season of the year that the disease is acquired. 
C)  length of journey from the bite site to the brain. 
D)  the amount of virus introduced into the wound. 
E)  length of journey from the bite site to the brain AND the amount of virus introduced into the wound.

Question 9

Why are such a high percentage of infant botulism cases associated with ingestion of honey?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bees cultivate C. botulinum bacteria within their hives as a food source, so it gets mixed in with the honey. 
B)  The infant digestive tract is far more susceptible to the effects of botulism toxin (found in the honey in relatively high levels) than the adult digestive tract. 
C)  The spores of C. botulinum produce a strong endotoxin. This endotoxin has little effect on adults due to their overall size. Infants, however, are significantly smaller (and therefore far more susceptible) than adults. 
D)  There can be endospores from C. botulinum in honey. They may germinate in the intestines of infants following consumption of honey, leading to colonization and pathogenesis as the bacteria begin forming botulism toxin. Adults' normal intestinal flora will outcompete the new microbes, but very young infants may not yet have this normal flora established. 
A)  Bees cultivate C. botulinum bacteria within their hives as a food source, so it gets mixed in with the honey. 
B)  The infant digestive tract is far more susceptible to the effects of botulism toxin (found in the honey in relatively high levels) than the adult digestive tract. 
C)  The spores of C. botulinum produce a strong endotoxin. This endotoxin has little effect on adults due to their overall size. Infants, however, are significantly smaller (and therefore far more susceptible) than adults. 
D)  There can be endospores from C. botulinum in honey. They may germinate in the intestines of infants following consumption of honey, leading to colonization and pathogenesis as the bacteria begin forming botulism toxin. Adults' normal intestinal flora will outcompete the new microbes, but very young infants may not yet have this normal flora established.

Question 10

In rabies, the virus multiplies in one kind of cell then binds to receptors in the

Accepted Answer

A)  neuromuscular region. 
B)  spinal cord. 
C)  respiratory area. 
D)  brain. 
A)  neuromuscular region. 
B)  spinal cord. 
C)  respiratory area. 
D)  brain.

Question 11

Which is true about prions?

Accepted Answer

A)  They cause a degenerative brain condition. 
B)  They are naked pieces of RNA. 
C)  They are made of DNA and protein. 
D)  They are a normal brain protein that has folded differently. 
E)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are a normal brain protein that has folded differently. 
A)  They cause a degenerative brain condition. 
B)  They are naked pieces of RNA. 
C)  They are made of DNA and protein. 
D)  They are a normal brain protein that has folded differently. 
E)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are a normal brain protein that has folded differently.

Question 12

Mycobacterium leprae is only grown in living cells.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which animal is used as an early warning system for encephalitis?

Accepted Answer

A)  armadillos 
B)  mice 
C)  chickens 
D)  foxes 
A)  armadillos 
B)  mice 
C)  chickens 
D)  foxes

Question 14

To determine the causative agent of a CNS infection, a sample is taken from the

Accepted Answer

A)  cerebrospinal fluid. 
B)  arterial blood. 
C)  venous blood. 
D)  urine. 
A)  cerebrospinal fluid. 
B)  arterial blood. 
C)  venous blood. 
D)  urine.

Question 15

Which is true about C. botulinum?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is anaerobic. 
B)  It may form spores. 
C)  It produces a neurotoxin. 
D)  It does not grow well below pH 4.5. 
E)  All of the choices are correct. 
A)  It is anaerobic. 
B)  It may form spores. 
C)  It produces a neurotoxin. 
D)  It does not grow well below pH 4.5. 
E)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 16

Epidemics of meningitis appear to involve

Accepted Answer

A)  Streptococcus pneumoniae. 
B)  Haemophilus influenzae. 
C)  Neisseria meningitidis. 
D)  Streptococcus pyogenes. 
A)  Streptococcus pneumoniae. 
B)  Haemophilus influenzae. 
C)  Neisseria meningitidis. 
D)  Streptococcus pyogenes.

Question 17

Why can an infection in the brain's ventricles usually be detected in spinal fluid obtained from the lower back (lumbar region)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) originates in the ventricles, but percolates over and around the brain and spinal cord. 
B)  There is a high degree of vascularity that exists, allowing easy transfer of bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood. 
C)  There is a set of lymph nodes specifically in place to drain the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the ventricles. They are housed in the lumbar region of the spinal column, adjacent to the spinal cord. 
D)  This is an incorrect statement. Since the central nervous system (CNS) is a protected site due to the blood-brain barrier, there can never BE an infection in the ventricles. 
A)  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) originates in the ventricles, but percolates over and around the brain and spinal cord. 
B)  There is a high degree of vascularity that exists, allowing easy transfer of bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood. 
C)  There is a set of lymph nodes specifically in place to drain the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the ventricles. They are housed in the lumbar region of the spinal column, adjacent to the spinal cord. 
D)  This is an incorrect statement. Since the central nervous system (CNS) is a protected site due to the blood-brain barrier, there can never BE an infection in the ventricles.

Question 18

The poliomyelitis virus is in the picornavirus family in the subgroup

Accepted Answer

A)  adenoviruses. 
B)  enteroviruses. 
C)  arboviruses. 
D)  dermotropic. 
A)  adenoviruses. 
B)  enteroviruses. 
C)  arboviruses. 
D)  dermotropic.

Question 19

Identification of the various strains of N. meningitidis is through

Accepted Answer

A)  Gram staining. 
B)  serogrouping. 
C)  fluorescent antibodies. 
D)  titering. 
A)  Gram staining. 
B)  serogrouping. 
C)  fluorescent antibodies. 
D)  titering.

Question 20

Which is true of the poliomyelitis virus?

Accepted Answer

A)  nonenveloped 
B)  single-stranded DNA 
C)  double-stranded RNA 
D)  single-stranded RNA 
E)  nonenveloped AND single-stranded RNA 
A)  nonenveloped 
B)  single-stranded DNA 
C)  double-stranded RNA 
D)  single-stranded RNA 
E)  nonenveloped AND single-stranded RNA

Exam 26: Nervous System Infections

A pathologist claims it's much easier to determine the causative agent of meningitis than an infection of the skin or intestines. Is this true? Why or why not?

The nerves that carry information to the CNS are termed

Leprosy is

All cases of paralytic polio acquired in the U.S. between 1980 and 1999 were caused by Sabin's polio vaccine.

Meningococcal meningitis is typically acquired through the

The transmission of leprosy is by

Which is true of listeriosis?

The incubation period of rabies is partially determined by

Why are such a high percentage of infant botulism cases associated with ingestion of honey?

In rabies, the virus multiplies in one kind of cell then binds to receptors in the

Which is true about prions?

Mycobacterium leprae is only grown in living cells.

Which animal is used as an early warning system for encephalitis?

To determine the causative agent of a CNS infection, a sample is taken from the

Which is true about C. botulinum?

Epidemics of meningitis appear to involve

Why can an infection in the brain's ventricles usually be detected in spinal fluid obtained from the lower back (lumbar region)?

The poliomyelitis virus is in the picornavirus family in the subgroup

Identification of the various strains of N. meningitidis is through

Which is true of the poliomyelitis virus?

Humans and the Microbial World

The Molecules of Life

Microscopy and Cell Structure

Dynamics of Prokaryotic Growth

Control of Microbial Growth

Metabolism: Fueling Cell Growth

The Blueprint of Life, From Dna to Protein

Bacterial Genetics

Biotechnology and Recombinant Dna

Identification and Classification of Prokaryotes

The Diversity of Prokaryotic Organisms

The Eukaryotic Members of the Microbial World

Viruses, Viroids and Prions

The Innate Immune Response

The Adaptive Immune Response

Host-Microbe Interactions

Immunologic Disorders

Applications of Immune Responses

Epidemiology

Antimicrobial Medications

Respiratory System Infections

Skin Infections

Wound Infections

Digestive System Infections

Genitourinary Infections

Blood and Lymphatic Infections

Hiv Disease and Complications of Immunodeficiency

Microbial Ecology

Environmental Microbiology: Treatment of Water, Wastes, and Polluted Habitats

Food Microbiology

Filters