We Need to Talk About... Trivia Quiz

Answer: Q Fever

Coxiella burnetii is a bacterium which is inhaled when released as a spore-like variant from contact with infected faeces and fluids from infected animals. Diagnosis is made serologically when testing for antibodies. Commonly, the symptoms are flu-like, with sudden onset of fever, headache, nausea and diarrhea.

Answer: Cat-scratch fever

This disease is most commonly caused by a scratch or bite from a cat, hence the name. Symptomatically it presents with tender and swollen lymph nodes near the site of the scratch or on the back of the neck. Flu-like symptoms can also be present, but often take as much as two months to appear.

Answer: Chickenpox

Chicken pox is highly contagious and is an airborne disease, usually spread through coughing and sneezing. It presents as a rash of small, itchy blisters. Most children are inoculated against it. People usually only get chickenpox once and generally are immune afterwards, although the virus remains in the body and may lead to shingles in later life.

Shingles is an infection of a nerve and band of skin supplied by the nerve and usually presents as a rash and pain along the area supplied by the nerve. It is often referred to as herpes zoster.

Answer: Cave disease

Histoplasma capsilatum is a fungus found in soil, generally around decaying bird or bat droppings. Symptoms of Histoplasmosis do not always occur and if they do, it is approximately 14 days after infection. The symptoms are often cough or flu like. Diagnosis can be done serologically by testing for antibodies in the blood.

Answer: Whooping cough

Bordetella Pertussis is a coccobacillus bacteria of the genus Bordetella. There are a number of different Bordetella species which infect humans and other mammals. Pertussis infects the respiratory system and causes the characteristic "whooping" sound when an infected person breathes.

The bacteria causes the cilia on the surface of the lungs to stop beating and this causes the host to go into a coughing fit as the lungs attempt to clear the debris from the lungs. In this way bacteria is expelled, which can infect other hosts.

Answer: Plague

Yersinia pestis is a coccobacillus bacteria of the genus Yersinia. It can infect humans through the oriental rat flea and was the cause of the Black Plague which resulted in the deaths of up to 200 million people in Europe in the 1300s. Every year thousands of cases of plague are still reported. Microbiological gram-stains as well as serological blood tests can be done to confirm and identify the bacteria.

Answer: Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Rocky mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii) is the most lethal rickettsia illness in the Americas. Rickettsia rickettsii is a species of bacteria spread to humans by Dermacentor ticks. Symptoms initially present as fever headache and muscle pain which is followed by a petechial rash.

A petechial rash is caused when superficial blood vessels under the skin burst and small red or purple dots of blood appear on the skin. Diagnosis is done serologically, but skin biopsies can also be carried out.

Answer: Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. The treponema pallidum bacteria is of the phylum spirochaete, which are generally corkscrew shaped or spiraled. Treponema pallidum is not only responsible for syphilis, but also bejel (skin and tissue disease), pinta (skin disease) and yaws (skin, bone and joint infection).

Answer: Rose gardeners' disease

Sporothrix schenckii is a fungus and the disease affects mostly affects the skin, although it can affect lungs, bones, brain and joints too. Because the fungus is found in soil, hay and plants, it is usually found in farmers and gardeners. It is usually contracted through cuts and abrasions on the hands. In cases where the lungs are affected, it is due to spores being inhaled.

Answer: Parrot fever

C Psittaci is an intracellular bacteria parasite species that is capable of growing and reproducing inside the infected person. The bacteria is transmitted by being inhaled or ingestion and is found among birds and mammals. Symptoms in birds are often only triggered in times of stress.

In humans, psittacosis can be lethal and is sometimes difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can mimic typhoid and meningitis.