A smear of dental plaque revealed unicellular organisms with pseudopodia and ingested white blood cells. What is the most likely causative agent?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Entamoeba gingivalis. This organism matches the description provided in the question - unicellular with pseudopodia and ingested white blood cells, commonly found in dental plaque. Entamoeba gingivalis is known to inhabit the oral cavity and is associated with periodontal disease. Trichomonas vaginalis, Giardia lamblia, and Balantidium coli do not match the characteristics mentioned in the question and are not typically found in the oral cavity.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: genotype. The genotype refers to the actual genetic makeup of an organism, including all the genes and alleles present in its DNA. This determines the traits and characteristics of an organism. Phenotype (A) is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism. Conjugation (C) is a process in bacteria involving the transfer of genetic material. Construct (D) is not a term related to genetics. Therefore, the correct choice is B as it specifically refers to the genetic composition of an organism.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani produces tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin causing tetanus. It enters the body through wounds and affects the nervous system. A: Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxin causing botulism, not tetanus. C: Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, not tetanus. D: Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, not tetanus.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: P.aeruginosa. This bacterium is commonly found in water and soil, making its presence in indoor air an indicator of poor sanitation. Step 1: P.aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen known to cause infections in hospitals. Step 2: Its presence in the air indicates potential contamination and poor air quality. Step 3: Regular monitoring of P.aeruginosa levels can help assess the effectiveness of sanitation measures. Summary: A, B, and C are not suitable indicators of air sanitation in an enclosed space as they are not typically associated with environmental contamination or poor air quality.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Negative stain. Negative staining uses acidic dyes which are repelled by the bacterial cell wall components, highlighting bacteria with a large amount of peptidoglycan. Acid-fast stain (A) is used to identify Mycobacterium species with waxy cell walls. Gram stain (B) differentiates bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative based on cell wall composition. Option D is a duplicate of option C and is incorrect.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D (15-Oct) because boiling items for at least 15 minutes is necessary to effectively kill most vegetative bacteria and viruses. This duration ensures that the water reaches a high enough temperature to destroy harmful microorganisms. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not provide a sufficient amount of time for the water to reach the necessary temperature to effectively kill bacteria and viruses. Shorter durations may not be effective in ensuring food safety.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Leffler's method. In this staining method, gentian violet solution is used as the primary stain, followed by Lugol's solution as a mordant, 960 spiritus as a decolorizer, and water fuchsin as a counterstain. Gentian violet stains the organisms purple, Lugol's solution helps in fixing the dye, 960 spiritus decolorizes non-specifically, and water fuchsin acts as a counterstain to help visualize the bacteria. Leffler's method is specifically used for staining sputum smears in suspected cases of croupous pneumonia. Summary: B: Gram's staining uses crystal violet, iodine, alcohol, and safranin. It is mainly used for distinguishing between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. C: Ziehl-Neelsen's staining is used for acid-fast bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis using carbol fuchsin and acid-alcohol

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Salmonella typhi, because it is a motile bacterium due to possessing flagella that aid in movement. Bacillus anthracis (A) is non-motile, Klebsiella pneumoniae (B) lacks flagella for motility, and Shigella flexneri (C) is non-motile as well. Salmonella typhi (D) is known for its flagella-driven motility, allowing it to move and spread within its host and environment. Flagella are essential for bacterial motility, enabling them to navigate and colonize different environments efficiently.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Treponema pallidum. This is because Treponema pallidum is a thin spiral bacteria with 12-14 coils and pointed ends, which matches the description given in the question. Treponema pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect: B: Leptospira - Leptospira is a spiral-shaped bacteria, but it does not have the specific characteristics mentioned in the question. C: Borrelia - Borrelia is another spiral-shaped bacteria, but it does not match the specific features described in the question. D: Spirochaeta - Spirochaeta is a genus of spiral-shaped bacteria, but it does not fit the description of having 12-14 coils and pointed ends as mentioned in the question.