Examination of a child revealed some whitish spots looking like coagulated milk on the mucous membrane of his cheeks and tongue. Analysis of smears revealed gram-positive oval yeast-like cells. What causative agents are they?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Candida. The whitish spots resembling coagulated milk on the mucous membranes are characteristic of oral thrush, a condition caused by Candida species. Candida is a gram-positive oval yeast-like fungus commonly found in the oral cavity. Staphylococci (B) are gram-positive cocci, not yeast-like cells. Diphtheria bacillus (C) causes diphtheria, not oral thrush. Actinomycetes (D) are filamentous bacteria, not yeast-like cells typically seen in oral thrush. Therefore, A is the correct answer based on the clinical presentation and microscopic findings.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Staphylococcus aureus. This is because Staphylococcus aureus is Gram-positive, catalase-positive, and coagulase-positive, which matches the characteristics described in the question. Staphylococcus epidermidis is also Gram-positive but is coagulase-negative. Streptococcus pneumoniae is Gram-positive but is catalase-negative. Enterococcus faecalis is Gram-positive but is catalase-negative and coagulase-negative. Therefore, based on the given information, Staphylococcus aureus is the likely causative agent of the wound infection.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why the correct answer is A (Cholera): 1. Gram-negative curved mobile monotrichous bacilli: Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, fits this description. 2. Do not produce spores or capsules: Vibrio cholerae does not produce spores or capsules. 3. Require alkaline reaction (pH 8.5-9.5): Vibrio cholerae thrives in alkaline environments. 4. Enteric infection: Cholera is a classic example of an enteric infection transmitted through contaminated food or water. Summary of why other choices are incorrect: B: Shigellosis is caused by Shigella species, which are gram-negative, but they are not curved bacilli and do not require an alkaline pH. C: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi, which are gram-negative but are not curved bacilli and do not require an alkaline pH.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Zoonosis. Tularemia is primarily a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. The bacterium that causes tularemia, Francisella tularensis, commonly infects animals like rabbits, rodents, and ticks, which serve as reservoir hosts. Humans can get infected through direct contact with infected animals, insect bites, or contaminated water or soil. This zoonotic nature of tularemia distinguishes it from anthroponosis (A), which is transmitted only between humans, and sapronosis (C), which is transmitted through non-living environmental sources. Choice D is incorrect because there is a correct answer, which is zoonosis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: Vibrio cholerae produces the exotoxin responsible for severe diarrhea. It causes cholera by disrupting the normal functioning of the intestines. Clostridium botulinum causes botulism, not diarrhea. Streptococcus pyogenes causes strep throat and skin infections. Salmonella enterica causes food poisoning, not severe diarrhea. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Trichomonas vaginalis. Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan that causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection commonly found in vaginal discharges. In this case, the presence of flagellates in the vaginal discharge aligns with the characteristics of Trichomonas vaginalis. Leishmania donovani causes leishmaniasis, transmitted by sandflies. Trypanosoma gambiense causes African sleeping sickness through the tsetse fly bite. Trihomonas hominis is a non-pathogenic flagellate found in the human intestine. Therefore, the correct choice is A due to the correlation between the flagellates found in the vaginal discharge and the characteristics of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Escherichia coli. E. coli is the most common cause of acute cystitis. It typically presents with leukocytes and gram-negative bacilli in the urine. The green pigment production indicates pyocyanin, which is a characteristic of E. coli. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (A) can also produce green pigment, but it is less common in urinary tract infections. Proteus mirabilis (B) is associated with a swarming motility pattern on agar, not mucous colonies. Klebsiella pneumoniae (D) is associated with pneumonia and other respiratory infections, not cystitis.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Facultative anaerobes. Facultative anaerobes can survive in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. In aerobic conditions, they use oxygen for energy production, while in anaerobic conditions, they can switch to fermentation or anaerobic respiration. A: Obligate aerobes require oxygen to survive and cannot survive in anaerobic environments. C: Obligate anaerobes cannot survive in the presence of oxygen and only thrive in anaerobic conditions. D: Microaerophiles require low levels of oxygen to survive and cannot thrive in fully aerobic or anaerobic conditions.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: 1. Gram-positive cocci in clusters point to Staphylococcus or Micrococcus. 2. Catalase-positive eliminates Streptococcus. 3. Coagulase-positive distinguishes Staphylococcus aureus. 4. Thus, the causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus. Summary: - B: Streptococcus pyogenes is catalase-negative. - C: Enterococcus faecalis is catalase-negative. - D: Micrococcus luteus is catalase-positive but coagulase-negative.