Biology · Science General
Disease Causative Agents
2,258 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
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Microbes
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Physical contact
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Sexual contact
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Sharing syringes
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Infectious diseases are named so because they are caused due to “infection” which refers to the invasion by microorganisms. Thus, (1) is the correct answer.
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Tetanus
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Diphtheria
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Constipation
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Syphilis
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Syphilis is a bacterial disease which spreads through sexual contact. Tetanus (disease in which muscle contracts) and diphtheria are caused due to microbes and spread through air and soil, etc. Constipation (disease in which stools become hard) is an intrinsic disease, which is not spread from one person to the other.
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Virus
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Bacteria
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Host
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Vector
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Disease causing organisms, i.e. causative agents are transferred from the diseased to the healthy person by an organism which itself does not get the disease. Such an agent is called a “vector”.
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Common cold
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Cholera
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Pneumonia
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Tuberculosis
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Infectious agents of common cold (virus), pneumonia (bacteria) and tuberculosis (bacteria) are the microbes which transfer through air, i.e. these are air borne diseases and affect our immune system, lungs and respiratory system, respectively. On the contrary, AIDS is caused due to HIV which is transmitted by sexual contact or exchange of body fluids only. Thus, (2) is the answer.
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AIDS
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Tuberculosis
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Dengue fever
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Common cold
B
Correct answer
Explanation
AIDS, common cold and dengue fever are caused by viruses, e.g. HIV, common cold virus and dengue virus, respectively. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium named Bacillus calmettie and hence, (2) is the required answer.
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Small pox
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Fever
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Cough
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Elephantiasis
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Fever and cough last for a small duration and hence, they are acute. On the contrary, elephantiasis is a chronic disease, which lasts for a long time and makes the body and general health poor. In this disease, the person’s limbs, i.e. feet, legs, arms and hands, are highly swollen due to accumulation of water in the cells. The person looks bulky and his limbs are swollen. Hence, it is compared to elephant’s limbs and so the disease is termed “elephantiasis”.
It should be noted that now small pox has been eradicated, but when it was prevalent, it used to last for a small time and cause death.
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Salmonella typhi
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Salmonella enteridis
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Staphylococcus aureus
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Vibrio cholerae
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Dysentry
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Syphilis
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Cholera
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Typhoid
A
Correct answer
Explanation
It is caused by Shigella Dysenteriae.
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Bordetella pertussis
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Pasteurella pestis
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Treponema pallidum
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Streptococcus scarlatina
B
Correct answer
Explanation
This microbe causes Black death (bubonic plague).
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Mycobacterium species
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Clostridium species
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Vibrio species
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Salmonella species
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes TB.
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Bacillus
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Coccus
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Spirochaete
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Vibrio
C
Correct answer
Explanation
This bacteria is spiral in shape like all the members of spirochaete.
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Rabies
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Malaria
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Sore throat
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Tuberculosis
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Chloroquine (commonly misspelled as chloroquin) is an antimalarial drug used to treat and prevent malaria. It works by interfering with malaria parasite's ability to digest hemoglobin. It is not used for rabies, sore throat, or tuberculosis.
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Only 1
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Only 2
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Only 3
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1 and 2
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1 and 3
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Infantile paralysis is spread when the stool of an infected person is introduced into the mouth of another person through contaminated water or food (fecal-oral transmission).
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Malaria and breakbone fever
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Scurvy and ringworm
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Dengue and Hansen's disease
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Malaria and dermatophytosis
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Hansen's disease and dermatophytosis
E
Correct answer
Explanation
Transmissible diseases are those diseases which are communicable by contact with a patient suffering from it, or with some secretion of, or object touched by, such a patient.
Dermatophytosis is a contagious fungal infection caused by mold-like parasites that live on the cells in the outer layer of your skin.
Hansen's disease or leprosy is contagious disease caused by a bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, but is not easily transmitted.
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1, 2 and 3
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1, 3 and 5
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2, 3 and 4
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3, 4 and 5
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1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Variola vera is a highly contagious disease. People get infected with smallpox virus by inhaling droplets of saliva, which are full of virus, during face-to-face contact with an infected person.
Diphtheria (pair of leather scrolls) is spread (transmitted) from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, from coughing or sneezing.
Influenza viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.