Biology ยท Science General

Disease Causative Agents

2,531 Questions

Disease causative agents questions test your understanding of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, along with their transmission methods. These are common topics in general science sections of SSC and railways exams. Practice these questions to accurately identify disease pathogens and symptoms.

Viral diseasesFoodborne illnessesDisease transmission methodsExtrinsic disease factorsCommon pathogens

Disease Causative Agents Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common foodborne illness caused by animal products?

  1. Salmonella

  2. E. coli

  3. Campylobacter

  4. Influenza
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by viruses that primarily affect humans. It is not a foodborne illness caused by animal products.

Multiple choice

What is the primary mode of transmission of rabies?

  1. Through the bite of an infected animal

  2. Through contact with infected saliva

  3. Through contact with infected blood

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rabies can be transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, through contact with infected saliva, and through contact with infected blood.

Multiple choice

What is the most common cause of diarrhea?

  1. Rotavirus

  2. Escherichia coli

  3. Shigella

  4. Salmonella
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children worldwide.

Multiple choice

What is the most common cause of measles?

  1. Measles virus

  2. Mumps virus

  3. Rubella virus

  4. Varicella-zoster virus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Measles virus is the most common cause of measles.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a common type of germ that can be spread through hand contact?

  1. Bacteria

  2. Viruses

  3. Fungi

  4. Protozoa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Protozoa are typically not spread through hand contact, unlike bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which are common causes of infectious diseases transmitted through hand contact.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a mode of transmission of infectious diseases?

  1. Direct contact

  2. Indirect contact

  3. Vector-borne transmission

  4. Genetic inheritance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, which can be transmitted from one person to another through direct contact, indirect contact, or vector-borne transmission. Genetic inheritance is not a mode of transmission of infectious diseases.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a direct contact transmission of an infectious disease?

  1. Coughing or sneezing

  2. Touching an infected surface

  3. Being bitten by a mosquito

  4. Eating contaminated food
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Direct contact transmission occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing respiratory droplets that contain the pathogen into the air. These droplets can be inhaled by a nearby person, who can then become infected.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a global health challenge related to infectious diseases?

  1. Antimicrobial resistance

  2. Emerging infectious diseases

  3. Re-emerging infectious diseases

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, and re-emerging infectious diseases are all global health challenges related to infectious diseases. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when pathogens become resistant to the drugs that are used to treat them, emerging infectious diseases are new diseases that are spreading to new populations, and re-emerging infectious diseases are diseases that have been controlled in the past but are now making a comeback.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of an emerging infectious disease?

  1. COVID-19

  2. Ebola

  3. Zika

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

COVID-19, Ebola, and Zika are all examples of emerging infectious diseases. These diseases have all recently emerged and have caused significant public health concern.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a re-emerging infectious disease?

  1. Tuberculosis

  2. Measles

  3. Cholera

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Tuberculosis, measles, and cholera are all examples of re-emerging infectious diseases. These diseases were once controlled but have now made a comeback due to factors such as antimicrobial resistance and changes in public health practices.

Multiple choice

What was the primary cause of the Black Death?

  1. Bubonic plague

  2. Pneumonic plague

  3. Septicemic plague

  4. Smallpox
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Black Death was primarily caused by the bubonic plague, a bacterial infection transmitted by fleas that lived on black rats.

Multiple choice

How was the Black Death transmitted?

  1. Through the air

  2. Through contact with infected animals

  3. Through contact with infected people

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Black Death was transmitted through the air, through contact with infected animals, and through contact with infected people.

Multiple choice

What was the name of the bacterium that caused the Black Death?

  1. Yersinia pestis

  2. Salmonella enterica

  3. Staphylococcus aureus

  4. Escherichia coli
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Black Death was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a common cause of oral thrush?

  1. Bacteria

  2. Virus

  3. Fungus

  4. Parasite
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth that can cause white or yellow patches on the tongue or inside the cheeks.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a non-infectious disease that affects the digestive system of animals?

  1. Foot-and-mouth disease

  2. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

  3. Mastitis

  4. Intestinal impaction
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Intestinal impaction is a non-infectious condition in animals where the digestive tract becomes blocked with undigested food, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, and vomiting.