McGraw Hill Microbiology Test Bank

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Picornaviridae. Picornaviruses, such as enteroviruses, are commonly found in the feces of infected individuals. Therefore, their presence in water indicates fecal contamination and the need for additional purification. B: Herpesviridae are not typically associated with fecal contamination. C: Flaviviridae are mainly transmitted through arthropods like mosquitoes, not fecal contamination. D: Retroviridae, including HIV, are not typically excreted in high levels in feces and are not indicators of fecal contamination.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: protozoan. Babesiosis is caused by a protozoan parasite called Babesia. Protozoans are single-celled organisms that can cause various diseases in humans. Babesiosis is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. Bacteria (choice A), viruses (choice B), and helminths (choice C) are not responsible for causing babesiosis. Bacteria are typically responsible for diseases like Lyme disease, viruses for illnesses like Zika, and helminths for infections such as parasitic worms. Thus, the correct choice for the causative agent of babesiosis is a protozoan.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Yersinia pestis. Y. pestis is responsible for causing the plague, a severe infectious disease. This bacterium is transmitted via fleas from rodents to humans. It causes bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. Clostridium difficile causes gastrointestinal infections, Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause various infections but not the plague.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Volutin granules. Volutin granules are metachromatic granules that stain dark blue with methylene blue or Leishman stain. In diphtheria-causing bacteria, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, these granules are typically seen as yellow rods with dark blue thickenings on their ends when stained. Volutin granules are storage inclusions composed of polymetaphosphate that serve as an energy reserve for the bacteria. The presence of these granules in the detected microorganisms indicates the characteristic feature of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Summary of other choices: B: Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA molecules that are not typically visible on stained smears. C: Capsules are outer protective layers that are not visible on stained smears. D: Spores are reproductive structures formed by certain bacteria, not typically seen in Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Tularemia. Ticks can transmit tularemia, a bacterial infection caused by Francisella tularensis. Ticks pick up the bacteria when feeding on infected animals and can then transmit it to humans through their bites. Botulism (A) is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, not transmitted by ticks. Anthrax (B) is a bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis, typically transmitted through contact with contaminated animal products. MRSA (D) is a bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, commonly transmitted through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces, not by ticks.