Which of the following bacteria is responsible for causing the plague?

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: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, "All of the above." Escherichia coli is the most common bacteria causing UTIs due to its ability to colonize the urinary tract. Salmonella enterica and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are not typically associated with UTIs. Therefore, by process of elimination, since A is correct, B and C are incorrect.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Acid-fast bacteria have a unique cell wall component called mycolic acid, making them resistant to decolorization by acid-alcohol during staining. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is acid-fast, as it retains the stain due to its high lipid content. Streptococcus pyogenes (A), Clostridium perfringens (C), and Bacillus subtilis (D) do not possess mycolic acid in their cell walls, so they are not acid-fast.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rifampicin is the correct answer because it is a first-line antibiotic for treating pulmonary tuberculosis. It has excellent bactericidal activity and penetrates well into lung tissues where the infection is located. Rifampicin is also known for preventing the development of resistance. Tetracycline (A) and Furasolidone (B) are not commonly used for tuberculosis treatment. Bactrim (D) is a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, not effective for tuberculosis treatment.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The presence of acid-fast bacilli stained red against a blue background indicates mycobacteria, specifically Mycobacterium tuberculosis in this case. Ziehl-Neelsen staining is commonly used to detect tuberculosis. Diphtheria is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which does not stain with Ziehl-Neelsen. Pneumonia is a general term for lung infections caused by various pathogens. Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which requires special staining methods different from Ziehl-Neelsen.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Clostridium tetani and Bacillus anthracis. Both bacteria produce exotoxins that damage host tissues. Clostridium tetani produces tetanospasmin, which causes muscle rigidity in tetanus. Bacillus anthracis produces anthrax toxins, leading to tissue damage and systemic effects. Explanation: - Choice B (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) primarily cause infections through other mechanisms and do not produce exotoxins that damage host tissues. - Choice C (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes) are known for causing infections but not primarily through exotoxins that damage host tissues. - Choice D (Salmonella typhi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) cause diseases through different mechanisms and do not produce exotoxins that directly damage host tissues.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Giardia lamblia. This protozoan matches the description of the causative agent because it has two nuclei, four flagella, and a ventral adhesive disc. Giardia lamblia is commonly found in the duodenum and causes giardiasis. The other choices can be eliminated because Leishmania donovani causes visceral leishmaniasis, not the described symptoms. Entamoeba coli is a non-pathogenic amoeba found in the large intestine. Trypanosoma gambiense causes African trypanosomiasis and is transmitted by the tsetse fly, not matching the described characteristics.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: ELISA test for IgM anti-HAV in serum and HAV-Ag in stools. This test is the most reliable for detecting acute hepatitis A infection because IgM antibodies are produced early in the infection, indicating an active infection. Detection of HAV antigen in stools also confirms active viral shedding. A: Western blot assay for IgG anti-HAV in serum is not the most reliable for acute infection detection as IgG antibodies are produced later in the infection and indicate past exposure or immunity. C: ELISA test for IgG anti-HAV in serum is not the most reliable for acute infection detection as IgG antibodies are produced later in the infection and indicate past exposure or immunity. D: None of the above is incorrect as option B is the most appropriate choice for detecting acute hepatitis A infection.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: components of the gram-negative cell wall. Bacterial endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. They are released upon bacterial cell lysis and can cause severe immune responses. A: Proteins in the cell wall - This is incorrect because endotoxins are not proteins but rather lipopolysaccharides. B: Secreted into the environment - Endotoxins are not actively secreted but are released upon cell death or lysis. C: Components of the gram-positive cell wall - Gram-positive bacteria do not have an outer membrane with lipopolysaccharides, so endotoxins are not found in the gram-positive cell wall.