Question 1

The term ________ is applied to strains and preparations of Bacillus anthracis that exhibit properties that enhance dissemination and use as biological weapons.

Accepted Answer

A)  weaponized 
B)  virulized 
C)  category A 
D)  infectious 
A)  weaponized 
B)  virulized 
C)  category A 
D)  infectious A

Question 2

An inanimate object that transmits infectious agents between hosts is most appropriately called a

Accepted Answer

A)  fomite. 
B)  carrier. 
C)  vector. 
D)  reservoir. 
A)  fomite. 
B)  carrier. 
C)  vector. 
D)  reservoir. A

Question 3

The basic reproduction number of a pathogen

Accepted Answer

A)  can vary during an epidemic based on infection control measures. 
B)  can be determined experimentally in the lab. 
C)  is usually high for pathogens that are transmitted through direct contact. 
D)  can be determined experimentally and is usually high for pathogens that are transmitted through direct contact. 
A)  can vary during an epidemic based on infection control measures. 
B)  can be determined experimentally in the lab. 
C)  is usually high for pathogens that are transmitted through direct contact. 
D)  can be determined experimentally and is usually high for pathogens that are transmitted through direct contact. A

Question 4

Treponema pallidum is extremely sensitive to temperature changes and low moisture, thus it is transmitted

Accepted Answer

A)  by intimate person-to-person contact. 
B)  by fomites. 
C)  by vectors. 
D)  through common sources such as food and water. 
A)  by intimate person-to-person contact. 
B)  by fomites. 
C)  by vectors. 
D)  through common sources such as food and water.

Question 5

In the United States and other developed countries, deaths due to infectious diseases are decreasing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Morbidity statistics more precisely define the health of a population than mortality statistics.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Since 1994, HIV is no longer more prevalent in certain groups of people.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The most recent influenza pandemic was in

Accepted Answer

A)  1918. 
B)  1961. 
C)  1979. 
D)  2009. 
A)  1918. 
B)  1961. 
C)  1979. 
D)  2009.

Question 9

How can epidemiologist differentiate between common-source and host-to-host epidemics based only on the incidence of disease?

Accepted Answer

Common-source epidemics result from a si

Question 10

Diseases can be controlled through immunization even if the percentage of the population that is immunized is less than 100% because

Accepted Answer

A)  vectors can be controlled through other means. 
B)  most diseases lack reservoirs. 
C)  of herd immunity. 
D)  vehicles can be sterilized. 
A)  vectors can be controlled through other means. 
B)  most diseases lack reservoirs. 
C)  of herd immunity. 
D)  vehicles can be sterilized.

Question 11

A disease transferred by indirect contact with a high basic reproduction number and mortality would be an effective biological weapon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Many pathogenic organisms require living hosts as reservoirs to survive.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Cholera is an example of a pandemic disease that

Accepted Answer

A)  has multiple wild animal reservoirs and is thus difficult to eradicate. 
B)  spreads from a common source and could be controlled with adequate clean water and waste sanitation measures. 
C)  is spread through direct contact and has only a human reservoir. 
D)  has recently emerged due to overcrowding in urban centers. 
A)  has multiple wild animal reservoirs and is thus difficult to eradicate. 
B)  spreads from a common source and could be controlled with adequate clean water and waste sanitation measures. 
C)  is spread through direct contact and has only a human reservoir. 
D)  has recently emerged due to overcrowding in urban centers.

Question 14

Pasteurization of milk is a process that reduces bacterial levels and is an example of a disease control measure aimed at

Accepted Answer

A)  preventing host-to-host transmission. 
B)  controlling the disease vector. 
C)  preventing common source diseases. 
D)  eliminating the disease reservoir. 
A)  preventing host-to-host transmission. 
B)  controlling the disease vector. 
C)  preventing common source diseases. 
D)  eliminating the disease reservoir.

Question 15

An example of a cyclical disease is

Accepted Answer

A)  diphtheria. 
B)  smallpox. 
C)  California encephalitis. 
D)  anthrax. 
A)  diphtheria. 
B)  smallpox. 
C)  California encephalitis. 
D)  anthrax.

Question 16

A marked seasonality to a disease is often indicative of

Accepted Answer

A)  certain modes of transmission. 
B)  the presence of carriers. 
C)  a zoonotic infection. 
D)  a bacterial disease. 
A)  certain modes of transmission. 
B)  the presence of carriers. 
C)  a zoonotic infection. 
D)  a bacterial disease.

Question 17

How might climate change impact the incidence of a disease? Use a specific example to illustrate your answer.

Accepted Answer

Climate change could increase temperatur

Question 18

Rodents have been associated with numerous severe epidemics in the past, prompting microbiologist Hans Zinsser in the 1930s to write a book, Rats, Lice, and History, in which he documented the important role of rodents in epidemics. Discuss why rodent control is still desirable, even in an age when it is perceived that the ʺmagic bulletsʺ of chemotherapy and immunization to control infectious disease are readily available.

Accepted Answer

Rodents, among other animals, can serve

Question 19

Give an example of an acute and a chronic carrier of disease. What disease characteristics allow for chronic carriers to play significant roles in the spread of the disease? How are diseases with chronic carriers controlled?

Accepted Answer

Acute disease carriers contain only the

Question 20

Why are public health officials concerned about smallpox being used as a biological weapon? Give several reasons in your answer.

Accepted Answer

The causative agent for smallpox, Variol

Exam 29: Epidemiology

The term ________ is applied to strains and preparations of Bacillus anthracis that exhibit properties that enhance dissemination and use as biological weapons.

An inanimate object that transmits infectious agents between hosts is most appropriately called a

The basic reproduction number of a pathogen

Treponema pallidum is extremely sensitive to temperature changes and low moisture, thus it is transmitted

In the United States and other developed countries, deaths due to infectious diseases are decreasing.

Morbidity statistics more precisely define the health of a population than mortality statistics.

Since 1994, HIV is no longer more prevalent in certain groups of people.

The most recent influenza pandemic was in

How can epidemiologist differentiate between common-source and host-to-host epidemics based only on the incidence of disease?

Diseases can be controlled through immunization even if the percentage of the population that is immunized is less than 100% because

A disease transferred by indirect contact with a high basic reproduction number and mortality would be an effective biological weapon.

Many pathogenic organisms require living hosts as reservoirs to survive.

Cholera is an example of a pandemic disease that

Pasteurization of milk is a process that reduces bacterial levels and is an example of a disease control measure aimed at

An example of a cyclical disease is

A marked seasonality to a disease is often indicative of

How might climate change impact the incidence of a disease? Use a specific example to illustrate your answer.

Give an example of an acute and a chronic carrier of disease. What disease characteristics allow for chronic carriers to play significant roles in the spread of the disease? How are diseases with chronic carriers controlled?

Why are public health officials concerned about smallpox being used as a biological weapon? Give several reasons in your answer.

The Microbial World

Microbial Cell Structure and Function

Microbial Metabolism

Molecular Information Flow and Protein Processing

Microbial Growth and Its Control

Microbial Regulatory Systems

Molecular Biology of Microbial Growth

Viruses and Their Replication

Microbial Systems Biology

Viral Genomics, Diversity, and Ecology

Genetics of Bacteria and Archaea

Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Microbial Evolution and Systematics

Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms

Functional Diversity of Microorganisms

Diversity of Bacteria

Diversity of Archaea

Diversity of Microbial Eukarya

Taking the Measure of Microbial Systems

Microbial Ecosystems

Nutrient Cycles

Microbiology of the Built Environment

Microbial Symbioses

Microbial Symbioses with Humans

Microbial Infection and Pathogenesis

Innate Immunity: Broadly Specific Host Defenses

Adaptive Immunity: Highly Specific Host Defenses

Clinical Microbiology and Immunology

Person-to-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Vectorborne and Soilborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Waterborne and Foodborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Eukaryotic Pathogens: Fungi, Protozoans, and Helminths

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