Question 1

The symptoms of tetanus are due to

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of tetanus are due to the action of tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The toxin prevents the release of neurotransmitters at inhibitory synapses in the central nervous system, leading to sustained muscle contraction and spasm. This can result in muscle rigidity, painful muscle spasms (tetany), and potentially life-threatening complications such as respiratory failure.

Question 2

All of the following are true regarding African trypanosomiasis EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

A 30-year-old woman was hospitalized after she experienced convulsions. On examination, she was alert and oriented and complained of a fever, headache, and stiff neck. Any of the following organisms could be responsible for her symptoms EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Clostridium botulinum is not typically associated with symptoms of fever, headache, and stiff neck. It is mainly associated with the production of the botulinum toxin which leads to symptoms of flaccid paralysis. The other organisms listed can cause meningitis and are capable of producing these symptoms.

Question 4

Which of the following pairs is mismatched?

Accepted Answer

Cryptococcus neoformans is not an acid-fast rod; it is a non-motile, encapsulated yeast that causes meningitis in immunocompromised individuals.

Question 5

Initial treatment for tetanus in a fully immunized person with a puncture wound is

Accepted Answer

The answer of Initial treatment for tetanus in a fully...

Question 6

Which of the following statements about leprosy is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Patients with leprosy do not need to be isolated once they have received appropriate treatment. Leprosy is curable with multidrug therapy and patients can resume normal activities.

Question 7

All of the following are associated with botulism outbreaks EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. In fact, Alaskan natives have the highest rate of botulism in the world due to their traditional diet of preserved foods, such as fermented fish and seal oil. The other statements are all accurate associations with botulism outbreaks.

Question 8

Encephalitis is more common in the summer months because

Accepted Answer

Encephalitis is commonly transmitted by mosquitoes, and their populations increase in the warmer summer months.

Question 9

Bacterial encephalitis and meningitis are difficult to treat because

Accepted Answer

The blood-brain barrier is a protective mechanism that prevents many drugs, including antibiotics, from entering the central nervous system. This makes it difficult to treat infections of the brain and meninges (lining of the brain). Some antibiotics are able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, but not all.

Question 10

All of the following organisms cause meningitis EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent of leprosy, not meningitis.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about rabies is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Most infections in the U.S. are now the result of bites from infected wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, and bats.

Question 12

The prodromal (i.e. pre-acute disease stage) symptoms of bacterial meningitis is/are

Accepted Answer

The answer of The prodromal (i.e. pre-acute disease stage) symptoms...

Question 13

All of the following organisms are transmitted via the respiratory route EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Listeria monocytogenes is not transmitted via the respiratory route, but rather through ingestion of contaminated food or soil. The other organisms listed are transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols.

Question 14

Initial treatment for tetanus in an unimmunized person with a puncture wound is

Accepted Answer

The answer of Initial treatment for tetanus in an unimmunized...

Question 15

Which of the following statements about Neisseria meningitis is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Neisseria meningitis is a gram-negative aerobic bacterium.

Question 16

A pathologist detects Negri bodies while examining a brain section taken at autopsy. What was the cause of death?

Accepted Answer

Negri bodies are characteristic structures found in the neurons of patients with rabies. Therefore, the cause of death in this case is likely to be rabies.

Question 17

The most common route of central nervous system invasion by pathogens is through

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most common route of central nervous...

Question 18

All of the following organisms are correctly matched to the recommended treatment EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Poliovirus is a virus and cannot be treated with amphotericin B, which is an antifungal medication. The correct treatment for poliovirus is supportive care to manage symptoms and prevent complications.

Question 19

All of the following diseases are caused by arbovirus EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is caused by a free-living amoeba, not an arbovirus. The other diseases listed are all caused by arboviruses.

Question 20

The most effective control of mosquito-borne disease is

Accepted Answer

The most effective control of mosquito-borne disease is elimination of the mosquito population, as it prevents the spread of the disease by reducing the number of carriers. Treatment of infected humans and uninfected humans can mitigate the disease's symptoms but does not address its transmission. Treatment of infected wild animals is not feasible or practical for most mosquito-borne diseases. Avoidance of endemic areas can reduce the risk of exposure but may not be practical or effective in controlling the spread of the disease.

Quiz 22: Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System