Medical Virology & Mycology Paper Two 2022/2023 — MKU MBM...

Question 1

Fungus most likely found within reticuloendothelial cells?

Accepted Answer

Histoplasma capsulatum — An intracellular yeast that resides within macrophages and reticuloendothelial cells.

Question 2

Aspergillosis is recognized in tissue by the presence of:

Accepted Answer

Septate hyphae — Septate hyphae with acute-angle branching.

Question 3

Fungi colonize lesions caused by other agents. Which is the least likely colonizer?

Accepted Answer

Sporothrix — It is a primary pathogen introduced by inoculation rather than a secondary coloniser.

Question 4

A girl pricked her finger while pruning roses; a pustule became an ulcer with nodules along the lymphatics. Likely agent?

Accepted Answer

Sporothrix schenckii — The classic rose gardener's disease.

Question 5

In immunocompromised persons, which fungal disease is least frequently associated?

Accepted Answer

Malassezia furfur — Usually a superficial skin commensal rather than a major invasive opportunist.

Question 6

Which statement about Cryptococcus neoformans is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

Pathogenesis is primarily due to exotoxin A — Cryptococcal virulence rests on its polysaccharide capsule; exotoxin A is a Pseudomonas toxin.

Question 7

Fungal cells reproducing by budding are seen in infected tissues of patients with:

Accepted Answer

Candidiasis, cryptococcosis and sporotrichosis

Question 8

NOT a characteristic of histoplasmosis?

Accepted Answer

Person to person transmission — Acquired by inhaling spores from soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings, not spread between people.

Question 9

Dermatophyte infection is most often associated with:

Accepted Answer

Adherence of the organism to perspiration-moist skin

Question 10

Which statement about Candida albicans is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

Transmitted primarily by respiratory aerosol — Candida infection is usually endogenous or contact-acquired, not respiratory.

Question 11

Moniliasis is a disease caused by:

Accepted Answer

Candida albicans — Moniliasis is an older name for candidiasis.

Question 12

Cryptococcus neoformans causes:

Accepted Answer

Meningitis

Question 13

Medium used to isolate fungi?

Accepted Answer

Sabouraud dextrose agar

Question 14

Dermatophytes are fungi which:

Accepted Answer

Live in superficial keratinized skin, hair and nail

Question 15

Candida albicans is noteworthy as the aetiological agent of:

Accepted Answer

Thrush

Question 16

NOT classified as a dermatophyte:

Accepted Answer

Candida albicans — It is a yeast, not a dermatophyte.

Question 17

Ringworm is caused by:

Accepted Answer

Trichophyton rubrum

Question 18

The cell wall of the fungus:

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Question 19

Virus associated with gastroenteritis:

Accepted Answer

Rotaviruses — The most common cause worldwide, although astroviruses, noroviruses and adenoviruses also cause gastroenteritis.

Question 20

Infants infected with CMV in utero may suffer from:

Accepted Answer

Any of these

Question 21

Probable cause of Burkitt's lymphoma?

Accepted Answer

Epstein-Barr virus

Question 22

Antiviral protein produced by infected cells that binds other cells to prevent viral replication?

Accepted Answer

Interferon

Question 23

The enzyme neuraminidase is carried by:

Accepted Answer

Influenza virus

Question 24

Virus NOT transmitted by respiratory secretions?

Accepted Answer

St. Louis encephalitis — A mosquito-borne arbovirus, not a respiratory pathogen.

Question 25

Type of virus containing lysozyme to aid infection?

Accepted Answer

Bacteriophage — Lysozyme breaches the bacterial cell wall during entry and release.

Question 26

Lymphadenopathy refers to:

Accepted Answer

Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes

Question 27

Bacteriophages that enter stable, long-term relationships with their hosts:

Accepted Answer

Temperate phages — They integrate as a prophage in lysogeny.

Question 28

Which antiviral–virus pairing is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Amantadine and influenza B virus — Amantadine targets the M2 ion channel unique to influenza A, so it has no activity against influenza B. All other pairings are correct.

Question 29

TRUE statement for varicella-zoster virus infection?

Accepted Answer

Remains latent in sensory ganglia after primary infection — VZV becomes latent in dorsal root and sensory ganglia and reactivates later as shingles.

Question 30

NOT TRUE about cytomegalovirus?

Accepted Answer

Causes Kawasaki disease — Kawasaki disease has no established causal link to CMV; its aetiology remains unknown. Option a is also arguably false, since most primary CMV infections are asymptomatic.

Question 31

Influenza A virus:

Accepted Answer

May undergo antigenic shift and antigenic drift — Shift and drift are the defining features of influenza A, and only influenza A undergoes shift. Options c, d and e are also true statements, while a is definitely false because immunity wanes and the vaccine is updated annually.

Question 32

NOT true about paramyxoviruses. They may cause:

Accepted Answer

Diarrhoea — Paramyxoviruses (measles, mumps, parainfluenza, RSV) cause respiratory and systemic disease rather than classic gastroenteritis.

Question 33

Respiratory syncytial virus:

Accepted Answer

May cause bronchiolitis — Bronchiolitis in infants is the hallmark disease. Options b and e are also true, but bronchiolitis is the classic answer being tested.

Question 34

Associated with parvovirus B19 — which is the odd one out?

Accepted Answer

Is teratogenic — Parvovirus B19 causes fetal hydrops and anaemia in utero, but it is not classically teratogenic in the way rubella or CMV are. Options a, c, d and e are all true.

Question 35

NOT true for measles virus infection?

Accepted Answer

May respond to acyclovir — Measles is managed supportively; acyclovir acts on herpesviruses, not on this paramyxovirus.

Medical Virology & Mycology Paper Two 2022/2023 — MKU MBM...

Questions, Answers & Explanations