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 biology food production food production and microorganisms microbial products - food, medicines and industrial products uses of microorganisms

Which of the following is non pathogenic bacteria of colon?

  1. E. coli

  2. Balantidium coli

  3. Entamoeba coli

  4. Enterbius vermicularis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  • Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli, is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, coliform bacterium of the genus Escherichia that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms.
  • Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines(colon) of Humans and animals.
  • E.coli  is nonpathogenic bacteria of the colon because it is present in the colon but do not cause any disease.
  • So, the correct answer is 'E.coli'.
Multiple choice zoology pollution - a rising environmental problem sources of water pollution marine life water pollution

Stiffback and fixed joint disease in human beings is due to

  1. The use of fluoride contaminated water

  2. Bacterial infection

  3. Viral infection

  4. Mycoplasmal and fungal infection
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
 Prolonged exposure to fluoride leads to fluorosis. A disease condition affects teeth and bones where bones become stiff and weak.
So, the correct answer is 'The use of fluoride contaminated water'
Multiple choice biology food and human health balanced diet and malnutrition balanced and unbalanced food digestive disorders diseases caused by changes in lifestyle diseases and toxic substance health and its maintenance

The major cause of diarrhoea in children is

  1. a bacterial infection

  2. a viral infection

  3. antibiotics

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

Diarrhoeal diseases are a group of intestinal infections, including food poisoning. The causative agents are mainly bacteria such as Staphylococus, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella etc.

Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

Which of these diseases can spread due to the coughing of the patient?

  1. AIDS, T.B. and hepatitis

  2. T.B., influenza and cholera

  3. T.B. and influenza

  4. T.B. and hepatitis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Influenza is caused by Haemophilus influenzae.  The infected person coughs and sneezes. These diseases are transmitted through the air droplets while sneezing and coughing. The causative agent survives in the air droplets and through the air, the disease is transmitted to the other person. 

Thus, the correct answer is option C. 

Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

Which of the following is/are correct regarding tuberculosis?

  1. It commonly affects the lungs.

  2. Bacteria releases tuberculin toxin.

  3. Patient's sputum contains blood.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease. The bacteria release toxins known as tuberculin which destroys the organs it infects. The symptoms of active TB of the lung are coughing, sometimes with sputum or blood, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. Tuberculosis is treatable with a six-month course of antibiotics.
Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

Tuberculosis can affect which parts of the body apart from lungs?

  1. Kidneys

  2. Spine

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body, including your kidneys, spine or brain. When TB occurs outside your lungs, signs and symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example- tuberculosis of the spine may give you back pain and tuberculosis in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine. 

Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

Night sweat is associated with which of the following diseases?

  1. Typhoid

  2. Tuberculosis

  3. Tetanus

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Symptoms of active Tuberculosis can depend on what part of the body has been infected. The symptoms include cough lasting 3 weeks or more, pain in the chest area, a cough that brings blood or mucus, chills, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. Tuberculosis can also affect a person's brain, bones, kidneys, or spine.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

Mycobacterium tuberculosis can attack on

  1. Lungs.

  2. Kidney.

  3. Bone.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
The most common type of TB is pulmonary TB. In this, Mycobacterium tuberculosis attack on lungs. The source of infection for getting pulmonary TB is inhalation of TB bacteria which generally settles in lungs. 
TB also affects other parts of the body. This is called as extrapulmonary TB. Extrapulmonary TB includes meningitis TB affecting the brain. The other sites which are attacked by Mycobacterium tuberculosis are lymph node, bones, kidney, spine, etc.
Thus, the correct answer is option D.
Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

A disease which causes maximum deaths in children is 

  1. Diphtheria

  2. Measles

  3. Tuberculosis

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


  • Tuberculosis is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. The symptoms of active TB is a chronic cough with blood-containing sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

    • Tuberculosis responsible for causing maximum deaths in children. If not diagnosed and treated at early stages.

  • So, the correct answer is 'Tuberculosis'.

Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

Bacteria which causes the disease by tissue damage is

  1. Tetanus bacteria

  2. TB-bacteria

  3. Typhoid bacteria

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

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease cased by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Though TB typically attacks the lungs, it can also target the kidney, spine and brain. Once the bacteria is spread, Mycobacterium tuberculosis grows in the throat and lungs after two to eight weeks after infection. It then can either be fought off entirely by the immune system, remain in the body in a latent state, or develop into active TB. If it is active TB, it can then become skeletal TB, genital tract TB, urinary tract TB, CNS TB, gastrointestinal TB, adrenal TB or cardiac TB. The tissue damage results from the lymphoid cells releasing toxic substances rather than from bacterial toxins. The bacteria actually cause macrophages to form granulomas. These granulomas can liquefy and cause bacteria to spill into the lungs to cause large  cavities to form active TB. The bacteria breed in the cavities. Thus, the tissue destruction results from cell-mediated hypersensitivity.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

A patient suffering from cough last 20 days or longer, may have an infection of

  1. TB.

  2. HIV.

  3. Hepatitis.

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

Symptoms of active TB can depend on what part of the body has been infected. If active TB occurs in the lungs, the symptoms can include a cough lasting 3 weeks or more, pain in the chest area, breathing difficulty, weight loss, cough that brings blood or mucus, chills, fever, and fatigue. TB can also affect a person's brain, bones, kidneys, or spine.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice biology infectious diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity health and diseases

Which of the following is most common in children?

  1. Meningitis TB

  2. Skeletal TB

  3. Lymph node TB

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

The most common type of TB in children is pulmonary TB. In about 70 -80% of the children affected by TB, it is pulmonary TB. The rest 20% is non-pulmonary TB. The source of infection for children getting pulmonary TB is inhalation of TB bacteria which generally settles in lungs.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology diseases and immunity pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases infectious diseases classification of microbes

Which of the following group is called pathogens?

  1. Viruses, bacteria and fungi

  2. Measles, mumps and chicken pox

  3. Cholesterol, saturate fat, and helminthes

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

The organisms or agents which are responsible for the development of a disease or any infection is known as a pathogen. The ability of the organism to cause disease is pathogenicity. The microbes like the virsues, bacteria, and fungi are known as the pathogens which cause a certain type of infection. 

Thus, the correct answer is option A. 

Multiple choice biology health and diseases pathogen and their mode of transmission some infectious diseases diseases and immunity

Which of the following is an infectious disease?

  1. Arthritis

  2. AIDS

  3. Tetanus

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

AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is an infection which is caused by Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The causative agent of the disease is a virus and so the disease can spread from one person to the other by sexual contact. 

Thus, the correct answer is option B.