Biology · 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 diseases is/are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes?

  1. Hay fever

  2. Sore throat and scarlet fever

  3. Acute Respiratory disease

  4. Tuberculosis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Streptococcus pyogenes is mainly the causative agent for the diseases Sore throat (Streptococcal pharyngitis) and scarlet fever. In complicated situations, the infections results in several disturbances like inflammation in middle ear, mastoid bones, sinuses, lung infections and rheumatic fever.

Multiple choice

Which of the following bacteria causes gas gangrene disease?

  1. Actinomyces israelii

  2. Treponema pallidum

  3. Streptococcus faecalis

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

Clostridium perfringens is the causative agent of gas gangrene disease where gas is produced within tissue in the gangrene. It may even be fatal that requires medical emergency. Gas gangrene may cause myonecrosis, i.e. death of tissue, production of gas and sometimes, development of toxemia and shock becomes very fast. This microbe is opportunistic and usually enters into the body through significant skin damages.

Multiple choice

“Klebsiella pneumoniae is very much typical in normal human intestine.” How pneumococcal pneumonia is different from the pneumonia caused by Klebsiella?

  1. The disease is characterised by inflammation of intestine with ulcer.

  2. The disease is characterised by pulmonary infections.

  3. The disease is characterised by lysis of cells in blood stream.

  4. The disease is characterised by extreme mucoid inflammatory exudates.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pneumococcal pneumonia is different from the pneumonia caused by Klebsiella. The disease is characterised by extreme mucoid inflammatory exudates including one or more lung lobes. Necrosis and abscess production are more frequent than in case of Pneumococcal pneumonia. Maximum Klebsiella pneumoniae’s stains are resistant to antibiotics which makes the treatment more difficult.

Multiple choice

” Streptococcus pneumoniae (Diplococcus pneumoniae) is responsible for causing pneumonia in 70% cases.”- What is the major virulence factor of it?

  1. Pneumolysin-O

  2. Oxygen-labile haemolysin

  3. Polysaccharide capsule

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

Polysaccharide capsule is the major virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Diplococcus pneumoniae). Unlike other streptococci, S.pneumoniae’s cells appear in form of diploccocci. Polysaccharide capsule prevents phagocytosis. In lungs, pneumococci begin an inflammatory response. Fluid of neighboring blood capillaries start to affect air sacs causing the affected region of lung becomes tough and solid. Encapsulated pneumococci are extremely resistant to phagocytosis.

Multiple choice

What is hepatitis?

  1. It is a water borne disease.

  2. It is a gas.

  3. It is an air borne disease.

  4. It is a chemical used to treat polluted water.

  5. It is a water purification process.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Hepatitis is a water borne disease, which adversely affects the liver of the patient.

Multiple choice

Minamata disease is cause by the compounds of _______.

  1. mercury

  2. cadmium

  3. cobalt

  4. fertilisers

  5. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Minamata disease is a form of methyl mercury poisoning. Caused by eating large quantities of fish and shellfish polluted by methyl mercury in factory waste water.