Diseases and Treatment: III. Fungal Disease

Total Questions: 7

1. Which of the following is not a Zoonotic disease? [R.A.S./ R.T.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Mucormycosis
(b) Rabies
(c) Plague
(d) SARS

Correct Answer: (a) Mucormycosis

Solution:Zoonotic disease is an infectious disease caused by a pathogen (an infectious agent, such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or prion) that has jumped from an animal (usually a vertebrate) to a human. Rabies, Plague, and SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) are zoonotic diseases. Mucormycosis is not a zoonotic disease. Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. These molds live throughout the environment. Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness. It is also known as black fungus. Symptoms depend on where in the body the infection occurs. It most commonly infects the nose, sinuses, eyes, and brain, resulting in a runny nose, one-sided facial swelling and pain, headache, fever, blurred vision, bulging or displacement of the eye (proptosis), and tissue death. Other forms of disease may infect the lungs, stomach and intestines, and skin.

2. Ergotism is due to consumption of: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1998]

(a) Contaminated grains
(b) Rotting vegetables
(c) Contaminated water
(d) Safe cooked food

Correct Answer: (a) Contaminated grains

Solution:Ergotism is a disease caused by consumption of contaminated grains. It is the effect of long-term ergot poisoning, traditionally due to the ingestion of the alkaloids produced by the Claviceps purpurea fungus that infects rye and other cereals.

3. "Athlete's Foot" is a disease caused by: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]

(a) Bacteria
(b) Fungus
(c) Protozoan
(d) Nematode

Correct Answer: (b) Fungus

Solution:Tinea pedis or athlete's foot is a fungal skin illness that frequently starts between the toes. Individuals who wear tight-fitting shoes and have excessively sweaty feet are more likely to get athlete's foot. An itchy, scaly rash is one of the warning signs and symptoms of athlete's foot. It is contagious and spreadable by contaminated surfaces, linens, or clothing. As well as ringworm and jock itch, athlete's foot is strongly related to other fungal illnesses. Antifungal drugs can be used to treat it, but the illness frequently returns.

4. Which of the following statements are correct? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Femur is the longest bone in the human body.
Cholera is a disease caused by bacteria.
Athlete’s foot is a disease caused by virus.

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 2

Solution:The femur is the longest bone in the human body. Vibrio cholerae is the causing bacteria for cholera. The athlete’s foot is an infectious disease caused by a number of different fungi, including species of Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, and Microsporum.

5. Which disease is caused by the fungi? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Polio
(b) Dermatitis
(c) Cholera
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (b) Dermatitis

Solution:Seborrheic dermatitis disease is caused by the fungi. It is an inflammatory skin disorder affecting the scalp, face, and torso. While often referred to as dandruff when it affects the scalp, it can also present as cradle cap in infants. The condition is believed to be linked to the overgrowth of the yeast Malassezia and is often managed with antifungal and corticosteroid medications. Polio is caused by a virus while cholera is a bacterial disease.

6. Which one of the following diseases is caused by Fungus? [U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

(a) Allergy
(b) Colour blindness
(c) AIDS
(d) Baldness

Correct Answer: (d) Baldness

Solution:Baldness is a fungal disease. Baldness, especially male or female pattern baldness, is often genetically inherited. Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks hair follicles, can also cause patchy hair loss. Other factors like stress, certain medications, and hormonal imbalances can also contribute to hair loss.

AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. HIV attacks and weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections and diseases. Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, which is often fatal.

The most common forms of color blindness are genetic, meaning they are passed down from parents. The most common types involve difficulty distinguishing between red and green, while less common forms affect blue-yellow vision.

7. Which of the following human organ is affected by the consumption of aflatoxin food adulterant? [48th to 52 B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

(a) Heart
(b) Lungs
(c) Kidney
(d) Liver

Correct Answer: (d) Liver

Solution:The liver is the major digestive gland which is affected by aflatoxins. Some fungal species of Aspergillus and Penicillium produce aflatoxins that make food toxic.

Aflatoxins are absorbed from the intestines and transported to the liver, where they are metabolized by enzymes like cytochrome P450. This metabolism converts aflatoxins into more toxic forms, including aflatoxin-8,9-epoxide, which can bind to DNA and cause mutations. The liver is the main site of aflatoxin metabolism and where the majority of the toxic effects are observed.

Aflatoxin exposure can cause acute liver damage (aflatoxicosis) and, over time, can lead to liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). Aflatoxins disrupt various cellular processes in the liver, including mitochondrial function, causing oxidative stress and inflammation, which contribute to liver damage.