2025 Comprehensive Microbiology Final Exam
Study Guide: Key Concepts, With 200 Practice
Questions, and Expert Tips for Success
1. Characteristics of the Orthomyxoviruses include all of the following, except:
A) Enveloped
B) Include paramyxoviruses
C) Hemagglutinin spikes
D) RNA genome
E) Neuraminidase spikes
Correct Answer: B) Include paramyxoviruses
Rationale: Orthomyxoviruses are distinct from paramyxoviruses. While both are RNA
viruses, paramyxoviruses belong to a different family, and thus, the statement "include
paramyxoviruses" is incorrect for Orthomyxoviruses.
2. The enzyme associated with the influenza virus that hydrolyzes the protective
mucous coating of the respiratory tract is:
A) Catalase
B) Reverse transcriptase
C) Hyaluronidase
D) Neuraminidase
E) Kinase
Correct Answer: D) Neuraminidase
Rationale: Neuraminidase is an enzyme found in influenza viruses that helps in the
hydrolysis of sialic acid residues, thus breaking down the protective mucus layer in the
respiratory tract, facilitating the spread of the virus.
3. Inhalation of respiratory secretions is involved in the transmission of the
following, except:
A) Influenza
B) Rubella
C) Dengue fever
,D) Mumps
E) SARS
Correct Answer: C) Dengue fever
Rationale: Dengue fever is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes
mosquitoes, not through respiratory secretions. In contrast, influenza, rubella, mumps,
and SARS are transmitted via inhalation of respiratory droplets.
4. Symptoms of influenza include:
A) Nasal discharge, mild fever, and absence of cough
B) Fever, diarrhea, vomiting
C) Fever, myalgia, sore throat, cough, nasal discharge
D) Fever, sore throat, rash, cough
E) Fever and pneumonia
Correct Answer: C) Fever, myalgia, sore throat, cough, nasal discharge
Rationale: Influenza symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches (myalgia), sore
throat, cough, and nasal discharge. Other options either contain unrelated symptoms or
are not typical of influenza.
5. Influenza vaccines include all the following, except:
A) Inactivated intramuscular vaccine
B) Usually incorporates three different strains
C) Attenuated, nasal drops vaccine
D) Provides lifelong immunity
E) Guillain-Barré syndrome is a postvaccination neurological complication
Correct Answer: D) Provides lifelong immunity
Rationale: Influenza vaccines do not provide lifelong immunity. Due to the rapid
mutation of the influenza virus, immunity is typically short-lived, necessitating annual
vaccination. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare but known postvaccination complication.
6. Which is not a disease caused by arenaviruses?
A) Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
B) Lassa fever
C) Hantaviruses
D) Bolivian hemorrhagic fever
E) Argentine hemorrhagic fever
,Correct Answer: C) Hantaviruses
Rationale: Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family, not the Arenaviridae family.
The diseases listed under A, B, D, and E are caused by arenaviruses, including Lassa
fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever.
7. Parainfluenza virus:
A) Usually infects the elderly
B) Is in the Orthomyxovirus family
C) Causes influenza
D) Causes croup, bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia
E) All of the choices are correct
Correct Answer: D) Causes croup, bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia
Rationale: Parainfluenza virus primarily causes respiratory illnesses such as croup,
bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia. It does not belong to the Orthomyxovirus family
(this is for influenza) and does not cause influenza itself.
8. Orchitis and epididymitis are seen in young adult males as a complication of:
A) Croup
B) Mumps
C) Influenza
D) Measles (rubeola)
E) Rubella
Correct Answer: B) Mumps
Rationale: Mumps is a viral infection known for causing orchitis and epididymitis in
young adult males, which can result in swelling of the testes. It is not a common
complication of the other conditions listed.
Oral lesions called Koplik's spots are seen in patients with:
A. croup.
B. mumps.
C. influenza.
D. measles (rubeola).
E. rubella. - - correct ans- -D. measles (rubeola).
, This infection is marked by labored, noisy breathing and a hoarse cough:
A. croup
B. mumps
C. influenza
D. measles (rubeola)
E. rubella - - correct ans- -A. croup
This febrile disease with a rash has a pathogen that can cross the placenta and cause
serious fetal
damage:
A. croup
B. mumps
C. influenza
D. measles (rubeola)
E. rubella - - correct ans- -E. rubella
Which is incorrect about the MMR immunization?
A. contains attenuated virus
B. contains toxoids
C. is given in early childhood
D. protects against 3 different viral diseases
E. None of the choices are correct. - - correct ans- -B. contains toxoids
All the following pertain to measles (rubeola), except:
A. transmitted by direct contact with the rash
B. humans are the only reservoir for the pathogen
C. secondary bacterial otitis media and sinusitis occur
Study Guide: Key Concepts, With 200 Practice
Questions, and Expert Tips for Success
1. Characteristics of the Orthomyxoviruses include all of the following, except:
A) Enveloped
B) Include paramyxoviruses
C) Hemagglutinin spikes
D) RNA genome
E) Neuraminidase spikes
Correct Answer: B) Include paramyxoviruses
Rationale: Orthomyxoviruses are distinct from paramyxoviruses. While both are RNA
viruses, paramyxoviruses belong to a different family, and thus, the statement "include
paramyxoviruses" is incorrect for Orthomyxoviruses.
2. The enzyme associated with the influenza virus that hydrolyzes the protective
mucous coating of the respiratory tract is:
A) Catalase
B) Reverse transcriptase
C) Hyaluronidase
D) Neuraminidase
E) Kinase
Correct Answer: D) Neuraminidase
Rationale: Neuraminidase is an enzyme found in influenza viruses that helps in the
hydrolysis of sialic acid residues, thus breaking down the protective mucus layer in the
respiratory tract, facilitating the spread of the virus.
3. Inhalation of respiratory secretions is involved in the transmission of the
following, except:
A) Influenza
B) Rubella
C) Dengue fever
,D) Mumps
E) SARS
Correct Answer: C) Dengue fever
Rationale: Dengue fever is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes
mosquitoes, not through respiratory secretions. In contrast, influenza, rubella, mumps,
and SARS are transmitted via inhalation of respiratory droplets.
4. Symptoms of influenza include:
A) Nasal discharge, mild fever, and absence of cough
B) Fever, diarrhea, vomiting
C) Fever, myalgia, sore throat, cough, nasal discharge
D) Fever, sore throat, rash, cough
E) Fever and pneumonia
Correct Answer: C) Fever, myalgia, sore throat, cough, nasal discharge
Rationale: Influenza symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches (myalgia), sore
throat, cough, and nasal discharge. Other options either contain unrelated symptoms or
are not typical of influenza.
5. Influenza vaccines include all the following, except:
A) Inactivated intramuscular vaccine
B) Usually incorporates three different strains
C) Attenuated, nasal drops vaccine
D) Provides lifelong immunity
E) Guillain-Barré syndrome is a postvaccination neurological complication
Correct Answer: D) Provides lifelong immunity
Rationale: Influenza vaccines do not provide lifelong immunity. Due to the rapid
mutation of the influenza virus, immunity is typically short-lived, necessitating annual
vaccination. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare but known postvaccination complication.
6. Which is not a disease caused by arenaviruses?
A) Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
B) Lassa fever
C) Hantaviruses
D) Bolivian hemorrhagic fever
E) Argentine hemorrhagic fever
,Correct Answer: C) Hantaviruses
Rationale: Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family, not the Arenaviridae family.
The diseases listed under A, B, D, and E are caused by arenaviruses, including Lassa
fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever.
7. Parainfluenza virus:
A) Usually infects the elderly
B) Is in the Orthomyxovirus family
C) Causes influenza
D) Causes croup, bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia
E) All of the choices are correct
Correct Answer: D) Causes croup, bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia
Rationale: Parainfluenza virus primarily causes respiratory illnesses such as croup,
bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia. It does not belong to the Orthomyxovirus family
(this is for influenza) and does not cause influenza itself.
8. Orchitis and epididymitis are seen in young adult males as a complication of:
A) Croup
B) Mumps
C) Influenza
D) Measles (rubeola)
E) Rubella
Correct Answer: B) Mumps
Rationale: Mumps is a viral infection known for causing orchitis and epididymitis in
young adult males, which can result in swelling of the testes. It is not a common
complication of the other conditions listed.
Oral lesions called Koplik's spots are seen in patients with:
A. croup.
B. mumps.
C. influenza.
D. measles (rubeola).
E. rubella. - - correct ans- -D. measles (rubeola).
, This infection is marked by labored, noisy breathing and a hoarse cough:
A. croup
B. mumps
C. influenza
D. measles (rubeola)
E. rubella - - correct ans- -A. croup
This febrile disease with a rash has a pathogen that can cross the placenta and cause
serious fetal
damage:
A. croup
B. mumps
C. influenza
D. measles (rubeola)
E. rubella - - correct ans- -E. rubella
Which is incorrect about the MMR immunization?
A. contains attenuated virus
B. contains toxoids
C. is given in early childhood
D. protects against 3 different viral diseases
E. None of the choices are correct. - - correct ans- -B. contains toxoids
All the following pertain to measles (rubeola), except:
A. transmitted by direct contact with the rash
B. humans are the only reservoir for the pathogen
C. secondary bacterial otitis media and sinusitis occur
