A patient has wound abscess. Bacteriological examination of the wound content revealed a gram- negative bacillus which forms semi-transparent mucous colonies of blue-green color with a pearlescent appearance on the beef-extract agar. Culture has a specific odor of violets or jasmine. What type of pathogen was isolated from the patient's wound?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Gram-negative bacillus indicates P. aeruginosa, known for causing wound infections. Step 2: Semi-transparent mucous colonies of blue-green color with a pearlescent appearance are characteristic of P. aeruginosa. Step 3: Specific odor of violets or jasmine is a unique feature of P. aeruginosa. Therefore, the correct answer is A: P. aeruginosa. Summary: - B: P. vulgaris typically forms yellow colonies and doesn't have the characteristic odor. - C: S. aureus forms creamy white colonies, not blue-green, and has a distinct odor. - D: S. pyogenes forms grayish-white colonies and doesn't have the unique characteristics described.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bacillus anthracis. The black, painless carbuncle with peripheral vesicular rash is characteristic of cutaneous anthrax. Microscopy showing non-motile Gram-positive rods with a capsule aligns with Bacillus anthracis. The other choices can be eliminated: B: Staphylococcus aureus does not typically form a black lesion or have a capsule. C: Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene, not the described lesion. D: Bacillus subtilis is not associated with the specific clinical presentation mentioned.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Macrolides or fluoroquinolones. Legionella pneumophila is a bacterium that causes Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Macrolides (like azithromycin) and fluoroquinolones (like levofloxacin) are the recommended first-line treatments due to their ability to penetrate into lung tissues where Legionella infects. Penicillins and cephalosporins (choice A) are not effective against Legionella as it is intracellular and resistant to these antibiotics. Ethambutol and isoniazid (choice B) are used to treat tuberculosis, not Legionella infections. Second and third generation cephalosporins (choice D) are also not effective against Legionella. Therefore, the best choice for treating Legionella pneumophila infections is macrolides or fluoroquinolones.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is Amebiasis (choice A) because the patient's symptoms of acute gastrointestinal disorders and prolonged stay in an African country suggest exposure to Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amebiasis. This protozoal infection commonly occurs in tropical regions, including Africa. Trypanosomosis (choice B) is caused by Trypanosoma species transmitted by tsetse flies, primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa. Leishmaniasis (choice C) is transmitted by sandflies and presents with skin lesions or visceral involvement, not acute gastrointestinal symptoms. Malaria (choice D) is caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by mosquitoes and typically presents with fever, not acute gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are incorrect based on the patient's clinical presentation and travel history.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Ziehl-Neelsen staining method was applied. 1. Ziehl's solution is used as a primary stain in Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast organisms like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 2. Sulfuric acid is used as a decolorizer to remove excess stain. 3. Methylene blue is not part of the Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. 4. Burri's, Gram's, and Peshkov's staining methods are not used for acid-fast staining.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: High amount of mycolic acids. Mycobacteria are characterized by their unique cell wall composition, which includes a high amount of mycolic acids. Mycolic acids provide the bacteria with resistance to environmental stresses and are crucial for their pathogenicity. Polysaccharides (A) are not a prominent component of mycobacterial cell walls. While lipids (B) are present in mycobacterial cell walls, mycolic acids are the predominant lipid. Proteins (D) are also present but are not the defining feature of mycobacterial cell walls. Therefore, the correct answer is C due to the significant role mycolic acids play in the structure and function of mycobacterial cell walls.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae, a gram-negative bacterium that produces a toxin leading to severe watery diarrhea. Shigella dysenteriae causes dysentery, not cholera. Salmonella enterica causes salmonellosis, not cholera. Clostridium perfringens is associated with food poisoning, not cholera. In summary, Vibrio cholerae is the correct answer because it is the specific bacterium known to cause cholera, while the other choices are associated with different diseases.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The most probable diagnosis is A: Malaria. The patient's symptoms of periodic chills, high fever, and profuse sweating, along with living in Africa where malaria is endemic, strongly suggest malaria. The enlarged liver and spleen are consistent with malaria infection. The low erythrocyte count indicates hemolysis, a common feature of malaria. Spotted fever and sepsis do not typically present with the same pattern of symptoms and travel history as seen in this case. Haemolytic anaemia would not explain the patient's fever episodes and other symptoms. Therefore, based on the symptoms, travel history, and laboratory findings, malaria is the most likely diagnosis.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: streptococci. This term refers to beadlike chains of cocci formed after cell division along a single axis. "Diplococci" (A) are pairs of cocci, "tetrads" (C) are groups of four cocci, and "sarcinae" (D) are cube-like groups of eight cocci. Streptococci is the most appropriate term for describing the specific arrangement mentioned in the question.