ACVPM: Infectious/Parasitic Diseases
EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ||
ALREADY GRADED A+
<RECENT VERSION>
1. What is infection? - ANSWER ✅Entry and multiplication of an infectious
agent in a host; may be asymptomatic or clinical.
2. What is an infectious agent? - ANSWER ✅An organism capable of causing
infection or disease (virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite, or prion).
3. How does infection differ from infectious disease? - ANSWER ✅Infection
may be asymptomatic while infectious disease is clinically apparent illness.
4. What is pathogenicity? - ANSWER ✅Ability of an organism to cause overt
disease.
5. What is virulence? - ANSWER ✅Degree of pathogenicity; often reflected
by severity or case fatality rate.
,6. What is infectivity? - ANSWER ✅Ability of an agent to enter, survive, and
multiply in a host.
7. What is infectiousness? - ANSWER ✅Ease with which an agent is
transmitted to others.
8. What is a host? - ANSWER ✅A living organism that supports survival or
reproduction of an infectious agent.
9. What is a definitive host? - ANSWER ✅Host in which a parasite reaches
sexual maturity.
10.What is an intermediate host? - ANSWER ✅Host in which a parasite
develops in a larval or asexual stage.
11.What is a transport host? - ANSWER ✅A host that carries an organism
without development occurring.
12.What is a carrier? - ANSWER ✅An individual who harbors an infectious
agent without clinical signs but can transmit it.
13.What is a chronic carrier? - ANSWER ✅A carrier who sheds the agent for a
prolonged period.
14.What is an inapparent infection? - ANSWER ✅Infection without
recognizable clinical signs.
,15.What parasite causes giardiasis? - ANSWER ✅Giardia duodenalis (also G.
lamblia).
16.How is Giardia transmitted to humans? - ANSWER ✅Ingestion of cysts in
contaminated water or food.
17.What is the hallmark clinical sign of giardiasis? - ANSWER ✅Foul-
smelling, greasy diarrhea.
18.Why is giardiasis associated with wilderness exposure? - ANSWER
✅Contaminated surface water.
19.Which animals can serve as reservoirs for Giardia? - ANSWER ✅- Dogs
- Cats
- Wildlife
- Livestock.
20.Which parasites cause zoonotic hookworm disease? - ANSWER ✅-
Ancylostoma spp.
- Necator spp.
21.How do zoonotic hookworms infect humans? - ANSWER ✅Larval
penetration through the skin.
22.What is the typical human manifestation of zoonotic hookworm? -
ANSWER ✅Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM).
23.Where do CLM lesions commonly appear? - ANSWER ✅- Feet
, - Legs
- Buttocks
24.What environments increase risk of hookworm exposure? - ANSWER
✅Warm, sandy, contaminated soil.
25.What parasite causes toxoplasmosis? - ANSWER ✅Toxoplasma gondii.
26.What is the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii? - ANSWER ✅Cats.
27.How do humans acquire toxoplasmosis? - ANSWER ✅Ingestion of oocysts
or tissue cysts.
28.What foodborne source is associated with toxoplasmosis? - ANSWER
✅Undercooked meat.
29.Which population is at greatest risk for severe Listeriosis? - ANSWER ✅-
Pregnant women
- Immunocompromised individuals
30.Why is toxoplasmosis dangerous during pregnancy? - ANSWER ✅Risk of
congenital infection.
31.Which parasite causes ocular larva migrans? - ANSWER ✅Toxocara spp.
32.Which parasite is chlorine-resistant in water supplies? - ANSWER
✅Cryptosporidium.
EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ||
ALREADY GRADED A+
<RECENT VERSION>
1. What is infection? - ANSWER ✅Entry and multiplication of an infectious
agent in a host; may be asymptomatic or clinical.
2. What is an infectious agent? - ANSWER ✅An organism capable of causing
infection or disease (virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite, or prion).
3. How does infection differ from infectious disease? - ANSWER ✅Infection
may be asymptomatic while infectious disease is clinically apparent illness.
4. What is pathogenicity? - ANSWER ✅Ability of an organism to cause overt
disease.
5. What is virulence? - ANSWER ✅Degree of pathogenicity; often reflected
by severity or case fatality rate.
,6. What is infectivity? - ANSWER ✅Ability of an agent to enter, survive, and
multiply in a host.
7. What is infectiousness? - ANSWER ✅Ease with which an agent is
transmitted to others.
8. What is a host? - ANSWER ✅A living organism that supports survival or
reproduction of an infectious agent.
9. What is a definitive host? - ANSWER ✅Host in which a parasite reaches
sexual maturity.
10.What is an intermediate host? - ANSWER ✅Host in which a parasite
develops in a larval or asexual stage.
11.What is a transport host? - ANSWER ✅A host that carries an organism
without development occurring.
12.What is a carrier? - ANSWER ✅An individual who harbors an infectious
agent without clinical signs but can transmit it.
13.What is a chronic carrier? - ANSWER ✅A carrier who sheds the agent for a
prolonged period.
14.What is an inapparent infection? - ANSWER ✅Infection without
recognizable clinical signs.
,15.What parasite causes giardiasis? - ANSWER ✅Giardia duodenalis (also G.
lamblia).
16.How is Giardia transmitted to humans? - ANSWER ✅Ingestion of cysts in
contaminated water or food.
17.What is the hallmark clinical sign of giardiasis? - ANSWER ✅Foul-
smelling, greasy diarrhea.
18.Why is giardiasis associated with wilderness exposure? - ANSWER
✅Contaminated surface water.
19.Which animals can serve as reservoirs for Giardia? - ANSWER ✅- Dogs
- Cats
- Wildlife
- Livestock.
20.Which parasites cause zoonotic hookworm disease? - ANSWER ✅-
Ancylostoma spp.
- Necator spp.
21.How do zoonotic hookworms infect humans? - ANSWER ✅Larval
penetration through the skin.
22.What is the typical human manifestation of zoonotic hookworm? -
ANSWER ✅Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM).
23.Where do CLM lesions commonly appear? - ANSWER ✅- Feet
, - Legs
- Buttocks
24.What environments increase risk of hookworm exposure? - ANSWER
✅Warm, sandy, contaminated soil.
25.What parasite causes toxoplasmosis? - ANSWER ✅Toxoplasma gondii.
26.What is the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii? - ANSWER ✅Cats.
27.How do humans acquire toxoplasmosis? - ANSWER ✅Ingestion of oocysts
or tissue cysts.
28.What foodborne source is associated with toxoplasmosis? - ANSWER
✅Undercooked meat.
29.Which population is at greatest risk for severe Listeriosis? - ANSWER ✅-
Pregnant women
- Immunocompromised individuals
30.Why is toxoplasmosis dangerous during pregnancy? - ANSWER ✅Risk of
congenital infection.
31.Which parasite causes ocular larva migrans? - ANSWER ✅Toxocara spp.
32.Which parasite is chlorine-resistant in water supplies? - ANSWER
✅Cryptosporidium.
