Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Practice Indian Medical PG questions for Vector-Borne Disease Shifts. These multiple choice questions (MCQs) cover important concepts and help you prepare for your exams.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 1: Which of the following viral infections is transmitted by tick?
- A. Ehrlichiosis
- B. Lyme disease
- C. Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- D. Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) (Correct Answer)
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***Kyasanur forest disease (KFD)***
- KFD is a **viral hemorrhagic fever** caused by the Kyasanur Forest disease virus, a member of the *Flaviviridae* family.
- It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected **ticks**, especially *Haemaphysalis spinigera*.
*Ehrlichiosis*
- Ehrlichiosis is a **bacterial infection** caused by *Ehrlichia* species, not a viral infection.
- It is transmitted by **ticks**, primarily the **lone star tick** (*Amblyomma americanum*).
*Lyme disease*
- Lyme disease is a **bacterial infection** caused by *Borrelia burgdorferi*, not a viral infection.
- It is transmitted by **ticks**, notably the **black-legged tick** (*Ixodes scapularis*).
*Rocky Mountain spotted fever*
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a **bacterial infection** caused by *Rickettsia rickettsii*, not a viral infection.
- It is transmitted by **ticks**, such as the **American dog tick**, **Rocky Mountain wood tick**, and **brown dog tick**.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 2: Patient: fever, joint pain, rash. Recent history of mosquito bite. Most likely diagnosis in urban area?
- A. Dengue
- B. Japanese Encephalitis
- C. Malaria
- D. Chikungunya (Correct Answer)
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***Chikungunya***
- **Chikungunya** is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that commonly presents with **fever**, severe **joint pain** (polyarthralgia), and a **rash**, fitting the patient's symptoms.
- Its high prevalence in **urban areas** and recent history of **mosquito bites** make it a strong diagnostic consideration.
*Dengue*
- While Dengue also causes **fever** [1] and a **rash**, it is more typically associated with **severe muscle and bone pain** ("breakbone fever"), and **hemorrhagic manifestations** or shock, which are not mentioned.
- **Joint pain** in dengue is usually less debilitating than in chikungunya.
*Japanese Encephalitis*
- This is a serious **neurological infection** characterized by **fever**, **headache**, seizures, and altered mental status, rather than prominent joint pain and rash.
- It primarily affects the **brain** and is less likely to present with this specific symptom triad.
*Malaria*
- Malaria is characterized by **cyclic fevers**, chills, sweating, and fatigue, but typically **does not present with a rash** [1] or significant joint pain.
- It is caused by a **parasite** transmitted by *Anopheles* mosquitoes, and its clinical picture differs from the described symptoms.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 3: NVBDCP includes all except ?
- A. Filariasis
- B. Malaria
- C. Kala-azar
- D. Yellow fever (Correct Answer)
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***Yellow fever***
- Yellow fever is a **viral hemorrhagic fever** transmitted by infected mosquitoes, primarily **Aedes aegypti**.
- While a significant public health concern, it is **not included in India's National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP)**, as it is not endemic to India.
*Filariasis*
- **Lymphatic filariasis** (elephantiasis) is a major vector-borne disease in India, caused by parasitic worms transmitted by mosquitoes.
- It is a key component of the NVBDCP, which focuses on its elimination through **mass drug administration** and vector control.
*Malaria*
- **Malaria**, caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, is a cornerstone of the NVBDCP.
- The program actively implements strategies for **case detection, treatment, vector control**, and preventing outbreaks.
*Kala-azar*
- **Kala-azar** (visceral leishmaniasis) is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by **sandflies**, making it a vector-borne disease.
- It is one of the six diseases targeted by the NVBDCP for elimination, particularly in endemic regions of India.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 4: Kala azar is transmitted by:
- A. Tse tse fly
- B. Sandfly (Correct Answer)
- C. Hard tick
- D. Culex mosquito
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***Sandfly***
- **Kala azar**, also known as **visceral leishmaniasis**, is a severe parasitic disease caused by **Leishmania donovani**.
- This parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female **phlebotomine sandfly**.
*Tse tse fly*
- The **tse tse fly** is the vector for **African trypanosomiasis**, also known as **sleeping sickness**.
- It transmits **Trypanosoma brucei**, a different parasitic organism than the one causing kala azar.
*Hard tick*
- **Hard ticks** are vectors for several diseases, including **Lyme disease** (Borrelia burgdorferi), **Rocky Mountain spotted fever** (Rickettsia rickettsii), and **anaplasmosis**.
- They are not associated with the transmission of leishmaniasis.
*Culex mosquito*
- The **Culex mosquito** is a common vector for diseases such as **West Nile virus**, **Japanese encephalitis**, and **filariasis**.
- It does not transmit the **Leishmania parasite** responsible for kala azar.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 5: Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted by which of the following?
- A. Tse tse fly
- B. Reduviid bug (Correct Answer)
- C. Culex mosquito
- D. Sand fly
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***Reduviid bug***
- *Trypanosoma cruzi*, the causative agent of **Chagas disease**, is primarily transmitted to humans through the feces of infected **reduviid bugs**, also known as **kissing bugs**.
- The bug typically bites a person, often around the face, and then defecates near the bite wound, allowing the parasite to enter when the person scratches or rubs the area.
*Tse tse fly*
- The **tsetse fly** is the vector for **African trypanosomiasis** (sleeping sickness), caused by *Trypanosoma brucei*.
- This fly is geographically restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, whereas *Trypanosoma cruzi* is prevalent in the Americas.
*Culex mosquito*
- **Culex mosquitoes** are known vectors for various diseases, including **West Nile virus**, **Japanese encephalitis**, and **filariasis**.
- They are not involved in the transmission of *Trypanosoma cruzi*.
*Sand fly*
- **Sand flies** transmit **Leishmaniasis**, a parasitic disease caused by various species of *Leishmania*.
- They are also responsible for transmitting **Bartonellosis** and some types of **Arboviruses**, but not Chagas disease.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 6: Which of the following is the most important indicator for measuring the communicability of a disease?
- A. Prevalence rate
- B. Incidence rate
- C. Secondary attack rate (Correct Answer)
- D. Primary attack rate
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***Secondary attack rate***
- The **secondary attack rate** directly measures the proportion of susceptible individuals who develop a disease after being exposed to a primary case.
- It is a crucial indicator of a disease's **communicability** or **contagious spread** within a close-contact group.
*Prevalence rate*
- **Prevalence rate** describes the total number of existing cases in a population at a specific time or over a period.
- While useful for disease burden, it does not specifically indicate how easily a disease spreads from person to person.
*Incidence rate*
- The **incidence rate** measures the rate at which new cases of a disease occur in a population over a specified period.
- It reflects the risk of contracting a disease but doesn't directly quantify person-to-person transmissibility in close contacts.
*Primary attack rate*
- The **primary attack rate** is often used interchangeably with incidence rate during an outbreak, referring to the proportion of exposed individuals who become ill.
- While related to new cases, it doesn't specifically target the spread from a known primary case to secondary contacts.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 7: The best indicator for a potential explosiveness of plague outbreak is:
- A. Burrow index
- B. Cheopis index (Correct Answer)
- C. Specific percentage of fleas
- D. Total flea index
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***Cheopis index***
- The **Cheopis index** (average number of *Xenopsylla cheopis* fleas per rodent) is the **best indicator for explosive plague outbreaks**.
- *X. cheopis* (oriental rat flea) is the **primary vector** of *Yersinia pestis* and most efficient at transmission.
- When the Cheopis index **exceeds 1.0**, it indicates critical conditions for rapid epidemic spread and explosive outbreak potential.
- This index specifically measures the most dangerous vector species, making it the most precise predictor of outbreak explosiveness.
*Total flea index*
- Measures the average number of **all flea species** per rodent, regardless of vector competence.
- While useful for general surveillance, it **lacks specificity** as it includes non-vector or less efficient vector species.
- Does not specifically predict explosiveness as effectively as focusing on the primary vector species.
*Burrow index*
- Reflects rodent population density and activity (number of active burrows per hectare).
- Indicates **host availability** but not the immediate transmission risk from vectors.
- Important for understanding epizootic conditions but indirect measure of outbreak potential.
*Specific percentage of fleas*
- This term is **vague and non-standard** in plague epidemiology terminology.
- Could refer to various metrics (percentage infected, percentage of specific species) without clear definition.
- Not a recognized standardized indicator for plague surveillance.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 8: Emergency or re-emergence seen in which of the following organisms?
a) Polio virus
b) Measles virus
c) Nipah virus
d) West Nile virus
e) Ebola virus
- A. abd
- B. Hepatitis B virus
- C. bde
- D. cde (Correct Answer)
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***cde***
- **Nipah virus** is a well-known **emerging infectious disease** due to spillover from animal reservoirs.
- **West Nile virus** is considered a **re-emerging pathogen** that has spread globally, causing outbreaks.
- **Ebola virus** is famously associated with several **re-emergence events** in Africa, characterized by high fatality rates.
*abd*
- **Polio virus** is targeted for eradication and, while still circulating in some regions, is not typically classified as an emerging or re-emerging disease in the same context as the others.
- **Measles virus** is a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause outbreaks due to waning immunity or unvaccinated populations, but its pattern is more of a persistent public health challenge rather than true emergence/re-emergence.
*Hepatitis B virus*
- **Hepatitis B virus** is a chronic global health burden but is not considered an emerging or re-emerging virus; it has been endemic for many decades.
- Its transmission patterns and epidemiological profile are well-established.
*bde*
- **Measles virus**, as mentioned, is not typically categorized as an emerging or re-emerging infectious disease.
- The combination here incorrectly groups measles with true emerging/re-emerging pathogens.
*ade*
- **Polio virus** is primarily a target for eradication, not an emerging or re-emerging pathogen.
- This option incorrectly includes polio within the category of emerging/re-emerging diseases.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 9: With regard to the Goals, Milestones and Targets for the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (2016-2030), consider the following statements:
1. Compared to 2015, the target is to reduce the malaria mortality rates globally by at least 90% by year 2030
2. Compared to 2015, the target is to reduce malaria case incidence by 90% by year 2030
3. Eliminate malaria from at least 35 countries, where malaria was transmitted in 2015, by year 2030
Which of the above statements hold true?
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3 (Correct Answer)
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ***1, 2 and 3***
- All three statements accurately reflect the **core targets** set by the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (2016-2030).
- These ambitious goals aim to achieve significant reductions in malaria burden and eventual eradication in many regions.
*1 and 3 only*
- This option is incorrect because it omits statement 2, which is a verified goal for **reducing malaria case incidence**.
- All three statements are indeed part of the strategy's published objectives.
*1 and 2 only*
- This option is incorrect as it excludes statement 3 regarding the **elimination of malaria** from at least 35 countries.
- The strategy encompasses all three stated objectives for global malaria control.
*2 and 3 only*
- This option is incorrect because it fails to include statement 1, which specifies the target for **reducing malaria mortality rates**.
- The strategy explicitly addresses all three aspects: mortality, incidence, and country-level elimination.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG Question 10: What is true about global warming?
- A. Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas. (Correct Answer)
- B. The stratosphere ozone layer is harmful.
- C. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) increase the stratosphere ozone layer.
- D. The Kyoto Protocol called for a 20% reduction in the greenhouse effect.
Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Explanation: ### Explanation
**1. Why Option A is Correct:**
Global warming is primarily driven by the **Greenhouse Effect**, where certain gases trap infrared radiation (heat) in the Earth's atmosphere. **Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$)** is the most significant greenhouse gas, contributing approximately **60%** to the global warming effect. While other gases like methane ($CH_4$) have higher global warming potential per molecule, the sheer volume of $CO_2$ emitted from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation makes it the major driver of climate change.
**2. Why the Other Options are Incorrect:**
* **Option B:** The **stratospheric ozone layer** is beneficial, not harmful. It acts as a protective shield, absorbing 97–99% of the sun's high-frequency ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Harmful ozone is found in the **troposphere** (ground level), where it acts as a pollutant and respiratory irritant.
* **Option C:** Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) **decrease** the stratospheric ozone layer. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, they release chlorine atoms that catalyze the breakdown of ozone ($O_3$) into oxygen ($O_2$), leading to "ozone holes."
* **Option D:** The **Kyoto Protocol (1997)** aimed for a global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by an average of **5.2%** below 1990 levels by 2012, not 20%.
**3. High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:**
* **Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in order of contribution:** $CO_2$ (60%) > Methane (20%) > Nitrous Oxide (6%) > CFCs (14%).
* **Health Impacts:** Climate change expands the geographical range of vector-borne diseases (e.g., Malaria, Dengue) and increases the frequency of heatwaves and extreme weather events.
* **Montreal Protocol:** Focused on substances that deplete the ozone layer (CFCs).
* **Paris Agreement (2015):** Aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
More Vector-Borne Disease Shifts Indian Medical PG questions available in the OnCourse app. Practice MCQs, flashcards, and get detailed explanations.
