Encephalitis is an infection of
A) the brain.
B) the meninges.
C) neurons of the peripheral nervous system.
D) the eye.
E) the cauda equina.
A) the brain.
The Gram-negative diplococcus ________ is resistant to phagocytosis and releases Lipid A to cause
inflammation.
A) Clostridium botulinum
B) Haemophilus influenza
C) Streptococcus agalactiae
D) Neisseria meningitidis
E) Listeria monocytogenes
D) Neisseria meningitidis
The Gram-positive diplococcus ________ is commonly found in the pharynx but may invade the central
nervous system inside cells where it survives after endocytosis.
A) Streptococcus agalactiae
B) Listeria monocytogenes
C) Haemophilus influenzae
D) Neisseri
E) Streptococcus pneumoniae
The pleomorphic bacterium ________ is an obligate parasite due to its requirement for NAD+ and heme.
A) Neisseria meningitidis
B) Streptococcus pneumoniae
C) Listeria monocytogenes
D) Haemophilus influenzae
E) Streptococcus agalactiae
D) Haemophilus influenzae
Newborns exposed to the Gram-positive bacterium ________ during vaginal birth are at risk of developing
neonatal meningitis.
A) Streptococcus agalactiae
B) Listeria monocytogenes
C) Haemophilus influenzae
D) Neisseria meningitidis
E) Streptococcus pneumon
A) Streptococcus agalactiae
Contaminated food is the source of ________, which causes meningitis in the elderly and susceptible persons.
A) Neisseria meningitidis
B) Streptococcus agalactiae
C) Haemophilus influenzae
D) Listeria monocytogenes
E) Streptococcus pneumoniae
D) Listeria monocytogenes
Bacterial agents of meningitis which can survive phagocytosis include
A) Neisseria meningitidis.
B) Streptococcus pneumoniae.
C) Mycobacterium leprae.
D) both Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
E) Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pn
D) both Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
The type of bacterial meningitis that becomes epidemic among young adults is caused by
A) Streptococcus agalactiae.
B) Streptococcus pneumoniae.
C) Haemophilus influenzae.
D) Neisseria meningitidis.
E) Listeria monocytogenes.
D) Neisseria meningitidis.
Which of the following is TRUE of foodborne botulism?
A) It is an intoxication disorder.
B) It is not a life-threatening infection even when left untreated.
C) Large amounts of bacteria must be consumed to produce disease.
D) Normal food preparation metho
A) It is an intoxication disorder.
Botulism toxin disrupts motor control by
A) blocking the release of acetylcholine by motor neurons. B) causing demyelination of motor neurons.
C) blocking inhibitory signals to motor neurons.
D) killing motor neurons.
E) blocking acetylcholine receptors o
A) blocking the release of acetylcholine by motor neurons.
How does tetanospasmin affect motor control?
A) It blocks the secretion of acetylcholine into the synaptic cleft.
B) It blocks the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters in the CNS.
C) It triggers the endocytosis of skeletal muscle cells.
D) It induces n
B) It blocks the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters in the CNS.
A baby arrives at an emergency room suffering from violent muscles spasms and difficulty breathing. The
baby's body is so rigid a proper exam is difficult, but the staff note the baby is only a few weeks old and the
umbilicus has not healed properly. The
C) tetanus
Tetanus vaccine contains
A) antibodies against Clostridium tetani.
B) inactivated Clostridium tetani endospores.
C) antibodies against Clostridium tetani endospores.
D) fragments of Clostridium tetani cell walls.
E) inactivated tetanospasmin.
E) inactivated tetanospasmin.
The highly destructive form of Hansen's disease is the result of
A) poor immune response to Mycobacterium leprae.
B) autoimmune disease triggered by Mycobacteriu leprae.
C) intracellular infection with Clostridium botulinum.
D) poor immune response to Str
A) poor immune response to Mycobacterium leprae.
Which of the following diseases is the result of a bacterial infection of peripheral nerves?
A) botulism
B) acute bacterial meningitis
C) Hansen's disease
D) tetanus
E) rabies
C) Hansen's disease
Listeria monocytogenes pathogenesis is directly related to its ability to
A) produce a powerful toxin.
B) form endospores.
C) produce a polysaccharide capsule.
D) live and reproduce inside its host's cells.
E) resist most antimicrobial agents.
D) live and reproduce inside its host's cells.
A child is brought to the hospital with a high fever, nausea, and vomiting, and complaining of headache. The
cerebrospinal fluid collected by spinal tap is cloudy and contains spherical cells which stain Gram-positive.
These signs and symptoms are consist
C) bacterial meningitis probably due to Streptococcus.
The illustration is of a Gram-negative bacterium frequently responsible for meningitis. What virulence
factor(s) of the bacterium is/are illustrated?
A) a capsule
B) fimbriae
C) a membrane containing LOS
D) a capsule and fimbriae
E) a capsule, fimbriae, a
E) a capsule, fimbriae, and a membrane containing LOS
An intracellular parasite primarily transmitted as an STD is the agent of ________, which may cause enough
damage to result in blindness.
A) primary amebic meningoencephalopathy
B) trachoma
C) rabies
D) tetanus
E) cryptococcal meningitis
B) trachoma
The condition known as "pinkeye" may be the result of infection with
A) Haemophilus influenzae.
B) Trypanosoma brucei.
C) Acanthamoeba.
D) Clostridium botulinum.
E) Chlamydia trachomatis
A) Haemophilus influenzae.
The disease known as cryptococcal meningitis
A) begins as a lung infection.
B) is caused by a Gram-negative coccus.
C) results from exposure to bird droppings.
D) is transmitted in respiratory aerosols.
E) results from exposure to bird droppings and begin
E) results from exposure to bird droppings and begins as a lung infection.
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease can be prevented by avoiding
A) contact with mosquitoes.
B) contaminated waterways.
C) consumption of contaminated meat.
D) contact with bird droppings.
E) consumption of undercooked meat.
C) consumption of contaminated meat.
Which of the following is classified as a spongiform encephalopathy?
A) botulism
B) variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
C) Hansen's disease
D) arboviral encephalitis
E) African sleeping sickness
B) variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
African sleeping sickness is fatal if not treated because the parasite
A) evades destruction by the immune system by changing surface antigens.
B) produces a toxin which binds irreversibly to neurons.
C) is an intracellular parasite in RBC's, where they a
A) evades destruction by the immune system by changing surface antigens.
Nasal or ocular contact with water containing ________ may result in primary amebic meningoencephalitis.
A) Acanthamoeba
B) Naegleria
C) Trypanosoma brucei
D) both Acanthomoeba and Naegleria
E) Acanthamoeba, Naegleria and Trypanosoma brucei
D) both Acanthomoeba and Naegleria
A young man is experiencing fever and severe headaches, and is having difficulty staying awake. He reports
having spent time in Africa on a missionary trip several months ago. Recently he spent time in a park where he
went swimming in the lake and was bit
E) Trypanosoma brucei.
Functions of the ________ include regulation of heart rate and respiration.
A) cerebellum
B) cerebrum
C) spinal cord
D) brain stem
E) meninges
C) spinal cord
Functions of the meninges include
A) support for the brain and spinal cord.
B) transmission of signals from the peripheral nervous system.
C) protection from external shock.
D) production of neurotransmitters.
E) support for the brain and spinal cord and
E) support for the brain and spinal cord and protection from external shock.
The optic nerves are an example of which of the following?
A) motor nerves
B) spinal nerves
C) mixed nerves
D) synaptic nerves
E) sensory nerves
E) sensory nerves
Cerebrospinal fluid circulates in the ________ to deliver nutrients to the brain and spinal cord.
A) dura mater
B) arachnoid villi
C) cranial sinuses
D) subarachnoid space
E) pia mater
D) subarachnoid space
Some microbes gain access to the normally axenic central nervous system by
A) damaging the blood-brain barrier.
B) axonal transport from infected peripheral neurons.
C) infecting macrophages which subsequently enter the CNS. D) infecting lymph nodes in th
E) either damaging the blood-brain barrier or by axonal transport from infected peripheral neurons.
Which of the following causes of viral meningitis is transmitted by the fecal-oral route?
A) equine encephalitis virus
B) California encephalitis virus
C) West Nile virus
D) echovirus
E) rabies
D) echovirus
Viral meningitis is also called "aseptic meningitis"
A) to indicate no bacteria are involved.
B) because it is frequently a nosocomial infection.
C) since it is treatable with antiviral medications.
D) because it is vaccine-preventable.
E) to distinguish
A) to indicate no bacteria are involved.
The least common type of polio is
A) nonparalytic polio.
B) an asymptomatic infection.
C) minor polio.
D) paralytic polio.
E) postpolio syndrome.
D) paralytic polio.
Slow deterioration of muscle function occurring over many years occurs in
A) West Nile encephalitis.
B) postpolio syndrome.
C) African sleeping sickness.
D) minor polio.
E) leprosy.
B) postpolio syndrome.
Poliovirus is most often transmitted via
A) contaminated water.
B) household pets.
C) mosquitoes.
D) droplets.
E) endospores.
A) contaminated water.
Which of the following statements concerning rabies is FALSE?
A) It is caused by an ssRNA virus.
B) Transmission is usually via a bite from a rabid animal.
C) Treatment includes vaccination.
D) Bats are the source of most cases of rabies in humans.
E) All
E) All mammals can serve as a reservoir for the disease.
Which of the following nervous system diseases is treated with both passive and active immunization?
A) arboviral encephalitis
B) botulism
C) primary amebic meningoencephalopathy
D) rabies
E) West Nile encephalitis
D) rabies
Rodents are the natural hosts for the virus that causes
A) Eastern equine encephalitis.
B) Western equine encephalitis.
C) Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
D) St. Louis encephalitis.
E) West Nile encephalitis
C) Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
Which of the following causes of meningitis can be spread by the fecal-oral route?
A) Haemophilus influenzae
B) Streptococcus pneumoniae
C) Streptococcus agalactiae
D) coxsackie A virus
E) West Nile virus
D) coxsackie A virus
One summer, bird watchers and zookeepers in a major city notice that more birds than usual are dying. At the
same time reports of human encephalitis cases increase sharply. The cerebrospinal fluid of human patients is
clear. Similar enveloped RNA virus pa
A) an arbovirus