A patient with diarrhea had fecal analysis revealing small, curved Gram-negative bacilli with a monotrichous flagellum. These bacteria do not form spores or capsules and thrive in alkaline conditions. What is the causative agent?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Small, curved Gram-negative bacilli with a monotrichous flagellum point towards a motile bacterium. Step 2: The absence of spores or capsules and preference for alkaline conditions further narrows down the possibilities. Step 3: Vibrio cholerae fits all criteria as it is a curved, motile, Gram-negative bacillus that thrives in alkaline environments. Summary: Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobe, Salmonella and Shigella are non-flagellated, and all of them can form capsules or spores, unlike Vibrio cholerae.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. Arenaviridae family includes viruses with a segmented genome. 2. Lassa virus has a segmented genome, placing it in the Arenaviridae family. 3. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus belongs to the Nairoviridae family, not Arenaviridae. 4. Rabies virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, not Arenaviridae. 5. Epstein-Barr virus belongs to the Herpesviridae family, not Arenaviridae. Summary: A: Lassa virus is correct because it has a segmented genome, characteristic of Arenaviridae. B, C, D: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Rabies virus, and Epstein-Barr virus belong to different virus families, not Arenaviridae.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because Shigella sonnei escapes phagocytic clearance by lysing the phagosome and replicating in the cytoplasm. This allows the bacterium to avoid being destroyed by the acidic environment and enzymes in the phagolysosome. Choice B is incorrect as Shigella does not have a capsule. Choice C is incorrect because Shigella actually induces phagosome-lysosome fusion to facilitate its escape. Choice D is incorrect as protein A is a component of Staphylococcus aureus, not Shigella sonnei.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A (20 min) because Escherichia coli typically has a generation time of around 20 minutes, meaning the time it takes for a bacterial population to double. This rapid reproduction rate is a key characteristic of E. coli. Option B (60 min) is incorrect as it is longer than the usual generation time. Option C (20 hours) is too long for E. coli's generation time. Option D (24 hours) is also incorrect as it is much longer than the typical generation time of E. coli.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Vibrio cholerae. Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, which presents with severe watery diarrhea leading to dehydration. The characteristic comma-shaped (curved rod) appearance of Gram-negative bacteria is typical of Vibrio cholerae. This bacterium produces the cholera toxin, leading to the excessive secretion of fluid into the intestines. Salmonella typhi causes typhoid fever with symptoms like sustained fever, not watery diarrhea. Shigella dysenteriae causes bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Escherichia coli can cause various types of infections, but typically not severe watery diarrhea like cholera.