Microbiology Study Guide

West Nile Horse Virus Disease is a mosquito-borne viral disease.  The graph shows cases in horses since 2002.  Which factor most likely has the greatest impact on the number of cases of West Nile Horse Virus Disease today compared to past years?

• The number of horses in an area

• A vaccine available to protect horses

• Knowledge about mosquito-breeding sites

On Monday, Kara exhibits no symptoms of a viral illness.  She is sick on Tuesday and stays home from school.  On Wednesday, her friends stay home with the same illness, despite having no contact with Kari when she was sick on Tuesday.  Which the the most likely explanation of how the other students became sick?

• Kari was immune to the virus but infected the other students.
• The virus mutated and infected the other students after Kari got sick.
• Kari was infected with the virus before she experienced any symptoms.
• The virus was a carrier, and the other students were infected after Kari got sick.

Which would most likely contribute to antimicrobial resistance?

• An increased number of health care facilities.
• Overcrowding and poor sanitation.
• Creation of new varieties of vaccinations and medicines.
• Providing more education and training for medical professionals.

The discovery of penicillin helped in the 

• treatment of infections.
• healing of bones.
• discovery of viruses.
• search for diseases.

Which of these diseases is caused by a bacterium?

• rabies
• influenza
• strep throat
• chicken pox

Which illness is always caused by an infection?

• a heart attack
• a broken bone
• influenza 
• cancer

How can a pandemic be prevented?

• by monitoring exposed humans and animals
• by better food preparation practices
• by strict nutritional requirements

Which is a distinction between an epidemic and a pandemic?

• the symptoms of the disease
• the geographical area affected
• the species of organisms infected
• the season in which the disease spreads

Which organisms require a host cell to reproduce?

• protozoans
• bacteria
• viruses

Which vector is associated with the West Nile Virus?

• birds
• mosquitoes
• squirrels
• ticks