Fungal Pathogens in Veterinary Medicine: Quizzes and Study Guide

Question 1

Amphotericin B is the first-line treatment for which fungal infection?

Accepted Answer

Cryptococcal meningitis

Answer

Aspergillosis

Answer

Histoplasmosis

Answer

Sporotrichosis

Question 2

Which factor is NOT commonly associated with increased susceptibility to aspergillosis in animals?

Accepted Answer

Diabetes mellitus

Answer

Immunosuppression

Answer

Exposure to contaminated hay

Answer

Recent antimicrobial therapy

Question 3

What is the primary mechanism of action of azole antifungal drugs?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of ergosterol synthesis

Answer

Inhibition of DNA synthesis

Answer

Inhibition of protein synthesis

Answer

Disruption of cell membrane integrity

Question 4

What is the most common mode of transmission for Sporothrix schenckii, the causative agent of sporotrichosis?

Accepted Answer

Contact with contaminated soil

Answer

Inhalation

Answer

Ingestion

Answer

Vector-borne transmission

Question 5

In immunosuppressed animals, which approach is generally recommended for antifungal prophylaxis?

Accepted Answer

Targeted therapy based on identified fungal risk factors

Answer

Empirical therapy based solely on clinical presentation

Answer

Routine use of a broad-spectrum antifungal agent

Answer

Antifungal prophylaxis is not typically necessary

Question 6

Fungal spores that are most likely to be transmitted through the air are:

Accepted Answer

Conidia, small, asexual spores easily dispersed by wind

Answer

Arthrospores, formed by the fragmentation of fungal hyphae

Answer

Blastospores, produced by budding in yeast-like fungi

Answer

Ascospores, enclosed within specialized structures called asci

Question 7

The primary function of glycoproteins on the surface of fungal cells is:

Accepted Answer

Adhesion to host tissues, facilitating colonization and invasion

Answer

Nutrient acquisition, aiding in the uptake of essential nutrients

Answer

Toxigenesis, promoting the production of toxins that damage host tissues

Answer

Immune evasion, enabling fungi to evade host immune responses

Question 8

Which antifungal drug has activity against both yeasts and filamentous fungi?

Accepted Answer

Caspofungin, a broad-spectrum antifungal targeting fungal cell walls

Answer

Ciclopirox, an antifungal used topically for skin and nail infections

Answer

Griseofulvin, an antifungal specific for dermatophytes

Answer

Terbinafine, an antifungal commonly used for treating toenail infections

Question 9

In the diagnosis of fungal infections, which technique is employed for the microscopic examination of fungal structures in tissue samples?

Accepted Answer

Histopathology

Answer

Radiography

Answer

Cytology

Answer

Molecular diagnostics

Question 10

Which fungal species is commonly associated with respiratory disease in horses?

Accepted Answer

Aspergillus fumigatus

Answer

Candida albicans

Answer

Cryptococcus neoformans

Answer

Histoplasma capsulatum

Question 11

For a young horse with a suspected fungal respiratory infection, which diagnostic test offers the most definitive identification of the causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Fungal culture

Answer

Serum antibody test

Answer

Skin biopsy

Answer

PCR assay

Question 12

Which of the following species is not classified as a dermatophyte?

Accepted Answer

Candida albicans

Answer

Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Answer

Microsporum canis

Answer

Epidermophyton floccosum

Question 13

Identify the emerging fungal pathogen capable of causing significant infections in both animals and humans:

Accepted Answer

Candida auris

Answer

Aspergillus fumigatus

Answer

Trichophyton rubrum

Answer

Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 14

How does the innate immune system identify and combat fungal infections? Discuss the functions of phagocytic cells and pattern recognition receptors in this process.

Accepted Answer

Phagocytic cells engulf and destroy fungal cells, while pattern recognition receptors identify and bind to fungal components, triggering immune responses.

Answer

The innate immune system solely relies on complement protein activation to recognize fungal infections.

Answer

Antibodies produced by the adaptive immune response are primarily responsible for recognizing and responding to fungal infections.

Answer

The innate immune system plays no significant role in defending against fungal infections.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a major virulence factor of Candida albicans?

Accepted Answer

Flagella

Answer

Adhesion molecules

Answer

Secretion of hydrolytic enzymes

Answer

Germ tube formation

Question 16

The most prevalent fungal pathogen of the skin in cats is:

Accepted Answer

Microsporum canis

Answer

Candida albicans

Answer

Aspergillus fumigatus

Answer

Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 17

Select the most appropriate diagnostic test for invasive aspergillosis:

Accepted Answer

Galactomannan antigen detection

Answer

Histopathology

Answer

Culture

Answer

PCR

Question 18

The characteristic histopathological manifestation of histoplasmosis is:

Accepted Answer

Granulomas

Answer

Necrosis

Answer

Vasculitis

Answer

Abscesses

Question 19

Which type of hyphae is a characteristic feature of dimorphic fungi?

Accepted Answer

Mycelial and yeast-like

Answer

Septate and aseptate

Answer

Flagellated and non-flagellated

Answer

Unicellular and multicellular

Question 20

What is the preferred diagnostic technique for identifying cryptococcosis?

Accepted Answer

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

Answer

Blood culture

Answer

Radiography

Answer

Histopathology

Question 21

In combating fungal infections, what is the critical role played by the immune system?

Accepted Answer

Phagocytosis and antibody production

Answer

Toxin neutralization

Answer

Hyphae destruction

Answer

Nutrient deprivation