VBS 2032- Exam IV Learning Guides
Questions and Answers
What is the definition of an outbreak? - answerThe number of observed cases is higher
than the average number of cases
What category of food is the most common source of foodborne illness? -
answerContaminated produce
What is the most common cause of foodborne illness? - answerNorovirus
What bacteria cause the most serious forms of foodborne illness? - answerSalmonella
Clostidium perfringens
Campylobacter
Staphylococcus aureus
What kind of Foods does the FDA and USDS-FSIS inspect? - answerFDA- packaged
food, fresh produce, most fish and dairy
USDS-FSIS- most meat, poultry and processed egg products
What is the definition of an "outbreak" and "outbreak strain"? How does the term
"outbreak strain" differ from strain? - answerOutbreak- # of cases is higher than
expected
Outbreak strain- the same strain of microbe is found in multiple hosts in the same
time/space
Strain-
Generally speaking, how is an outbreak of foodborne illness investigated? - answerThe
host is asked a series of questions. Researchers isolate microbes from sick individuals,
and compare them to microbes found in different foods
What are the O, H, and K antigens? - answerO antigen- somatic or cell wall antigens
H antigen- surface capsular antigens
K antigen- flagellar antigens
What has the highest and lowest resolution in distinguishing between two strains:
antigenic typing, whole genome sequencing (WGS), Pulsed field Gel Electrophoresis
(PFGE)? - answerHighest resolution- WGS
Lowest resolution- PFGE
What hypotheses are we testing in our experiment with grocery store chicken? -
answerDo poultry raised without antibiotics (RWA) contain less antibiotic-resistant E.
coli?
,What questions can we ask when we have whole genomic sequence from isolates? -
answer
What is Genome Trakr? - answer
How can whole-genome sequencing help stop epidemics from spreading? -
answerWhole-genome sequencing can track down where a particular epidemic started,
and prevent it from spreading.
Compare and contrast basic features of the peripheral and central nervous system
(CNS). - answerCNS- surrounded by meninges
PNS- carries info to and from the CNS
Describe how the body protects the CNS. - answerThe cranial bone, dura mater,
arachnoid mater, subarachnoid mater (CSF), the spine
Meningitis - answerinflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord
Encephalitis - answerinflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus
Meningoencephalitis - answerinflammation of the meninges and brain
Myelitis - answerinflammation of the spinal cord or bone marrow
What types of molecules does the blood brain barrier (BBB) allow to pass into the
brain? What is blocked? How does this protect the brain, but also leave it potentially
vulnerable? - answerThe BBB allows nutrients to pass into the brain.
The BBB blocks cells, antibodies, and some antibiotics from passing into the brain.
This protects the brain from microbes and bacteria/viruses, but also leaves it vulnerable
by not allowing antibiotics in.
What is the function of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and how does it circulate? -
answerCSF carries nutrients and collects wastes, and is absorbed into the bloodstream.
It circulates in the ventricles and the subarachnoid space.
Describe the ways that microbes can enter the CNS. - answerMicrobes can enter the
CNS through travel along the nerves, high levels in the blood, surgery or trauma, and
from spreading from adjacent infected sites.
How are CNS infections detected? How would septic and aseptic meningitis look the
same? Different? - answerA lumbar puncture is used to obtain CSF, and it is analyzed
for red and white blood cells.
Septic and aseptic meningitis have the same symptoms, with different severity levels.
, What are typical sources for bacterial and aseptic meningitis? What one is more
common? More serious? - answerBacterial meningitis- respiratory tract, colon/vagina,
food, most serious consequences
Aseptic meningitis- fecal-oral route, most common
What are some distinctive symptoms of meningitis? - answerSevere, headache, neck
and back stiffness, fever, photophobia, nausea and vomiting
Why are neonates susceptible to bacterial meningitis and how is this prevented? -
answer- Group B Strep can be acquired in utero or in birth canal
- Babies have underdeveloped immune systems
- They are not protected by mother's IgG
What important vaccine prevents bacterial meningitis in young children? What typically
causes viral meningitis and where do the viruses come from? - answer- HiB vaccines
- Enteroviruses (non-eveloped) by the fecal-oral route
What causes meningococcal meningitis? Have you been vaccinated? Could you
become infected with serogroup B? - answer- Bacterial
- We are vaccinated for strains A, C, W, and Y
- Yes
What is a common source of bacterial meningitis in the elderly (and less so in young
children)? - answerListeriosis- raw sprouts, soft cheeses, raw milk, uncooked deli meats
and hot dogs, and smoked seafood
What is a common virulence factor for bacteria that cause meningitis? - answerS-
fimbrial adhesions
How does the immune system response create the severe symptoms of bacterial
meningitis? - answerThe immune system's own inflammatory response causes the
severe symptoms of bacterial meningitis.
Do most people who are exposed to Listeria monocytogenes develop Listeriosis? Who
is most at risk and what are the consequences? What are some foods to avoid? -
answer-No, mostly only pregnant women, elderly, and immunocompromised.
-Foods to avoid are raw sprouts, raw milk, soft cheeses, uncooked deli meats and hot
dogs, and smoked salmon
What agents typically cause encephalitis and how can it be prevented? -
answerViruses- herpes simplex (HSV) and arboviruses (transmitted from
ticks/mosquitoes)
West Nile Virus (1% get encephalitis) from birds
How is polio acquired? Do most people develop paralysis? - answer- Fecal-oral route,
respiratory route
Questions and Answers
What is the definition of an outbreak? - answerThe number of observed cases is higher
than the average number of cases
What category of food is the most common source of foodborne illness? -
answerContaminated produce
What is the most common cause of foodborne illness? - answerNorovirus
What bacteria cause the most serious forms of foodborne illness? - answerSalmonella
Clostidium perfringens
Campylobacter
Staphylococcus aureus
What kind of Foods does the FDA and USDS-FSIS inspect? - answerFDA- packaged
food, fresh produce, most fish and dairy
USDS-FSIS- most meat, poultry and processed egg products
What is the definition of an "outbreak" and "outbreak strain"? How does the term
"outbreak strain" differ from strain? - answerOutbreak- # of cases is higher than
expected
Outbreak strain- the same strain of microbe is found in multiple hosts in the same
time/space
Strain-
Generally speaking, how is an outbreak of foodborne illness investigated? - answerThe
host is asked a series of questions. Researchers isolate microbes from sick individuals,
and compare them to microbes found in different foods
What are the O, H, and K antigens? - answerO antigen- somatic or cell wall antigens
H antigen- surface capsular antigens
K antigen- flagellar antigens
What has the highest and lowest resolution in distinguishing between two strains:
antigenic typing, whole genome sequencing (WGS), Pulsed field Gel Electrophoresis
(PFGE)? - answerHighest resolution- WGS
Lowest resolution- PFGE
What hypotheses are we testing in our experiment with grocery store chicken? -
answerDo poultry raised without antibiotics (RWA) contain less antibiotic-resistant E.
coli?
,What questions can we ask when we have whole genomic sequence from isolates? -
answer
What is Genome Trakr? - answer
How can whole-genome sequencing help stop epidemics from spreading? -
answerWhole-genome sequencing can track down where a particular epidemic started,
and prevent it from spreading.
Compare and contrast basic features of the peripheral and central nervous system
(CNS). - answerCNS- surrounded by meninges
PNS- carries info to and from the CNS
Describe how the body protects the CNS. - answerThe cranial bone, dura mater,
arachnoid mater, subarachnoid mater (CSF), the spine
Meningitis - answerinflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord
Encephalitis - answerinflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus
Meningoencephalitis - answerinflammation of the meninges and brain
Myelitis - answerinflammation of the spinal cord or bone marrow
What types of molecules does the blood brain barrier (BBB) allow to pass into the
brain? What is blocked? How does this protect the brain, but also leave it potentially
vulnerable? - answerThe BBB allows nutrients to pass into the brain.
The BBB blocks cells, antibodies, and some antibiotics from passing into the brain.
This protects the brain from microbes and bacteria/viruses, but also leaves it vulnerable
by not allowing antibiotics in.
What is the function of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and how does it circulate? -
answerCSF carries nutrients and collects wastes, and is absorbed into the bloodstream.
It circulates in the ventricles and the subarachnoid space.
Describe the ways that microbes can enter the CNS. - answerMicrobes can enter the
CNS through travel along the nerves, high levels in the blood, surgery or trauma, and
from spreading from adjacent infected sites.
How are CNS infections detected? How would septic and aseptic meningitis look the
same? Different? - answerA lumbar puncture is used to obtain CSF, and it is analyzed
for red and white blood cells.
Septic and aseptic meningitis have the same symptoms, with different severity levels.
, What are typical sources for bacterial and aseptic meningitis? What one is more
common? More serious? - answerBacterial meningitis- respiratory tract, colon/vagina,
food, most serious consequences
Aseptic meningitis- fecal-oral route, most common
What are some distinctive symptoms of meningitis? - answerSevere, headache, neck
and back stiffness, fever, photophobia, nausea and vomiting
Why are neonates susceptible to bacterial meningitis and how is this prevented? -
answer- Group B Strep can be acquired in utero or in birth canal
- Babies have underdeveloped immune systems
- They are not protected by mother's IgG
What important vaccine prevents bacterial meningitis in young children? What typically
causes viral meningitis and where do the viruses come from? - answer- HiB vaccines
- Enteroviruses (non-eveloped) by the fecal-oral route
What causes meningococcal meningitis? Have you been vaccinated? Could you
become infected with serogroup B? - answer- Bacterial
- We are vaccinated for strains A, C, W, and Y
- Yes
What is a common source of bacterial meningitis in the elderly (and less so in young
children)? - answerListeriosis- raw sprouts, soft cheeses, raw milk, uncooked deli meats
and hot dogs, and smoked seafood
What is a common virulence factor for bacteria that cause meningitis? - answerS-
fimbrial adhesions
How does the immune system response create the severe symptoms of bacterial
meningitis? - answerThe immune system's own inflammatory response causes the
severe symptoms of bacterial meningitis.
Do most people who are exposed to Listeria monocytogenes develop Listeriosis? Who
is most at risk and what are the consequences? What are some foods to avoid? -
answer-No, mostly only pregnant women, elderly, and immunocompromised.
-Foods to avoid are raw sprouts, raw milk, soft cheeses, uncooked deli meats and hot
dogs, and smoked salmon
What agents typically cause encephalitis and how can it be prevented? -
answerViruses- herpes simplex (HSV) and arboviruses (transmitted from
ticks/mosquitoes)
West Nile Virus (1% get encephalitis) from birds
How is polio acquired? Do most people develop paralysis? - answer- Fecal-oral route,
respiratory route
