Parasitology and Immunology - Question Bank

1. Which parasite causes elephantiasis, a condition characterized by swelling of the limbs?
A) Wuchereria bancrofti
B) Onchocerca volvulus
C) Loa loa
D) Toxocara canis
2. The process by which antibodies coat a pathogen, making it easier for phagocytes to engulf, is called:
A) Agglutination
B) Neutralization
C) Opsonization
D) Complement activation
3. Which type of cells are long-lived and responsible for immunological memory, allowing for a faster response upon re-exposure to an antigen?
A) Plasma cells
B) Mast cells
C) Memory T cells and Memory B cells
D) Neutrophils
4. Which of the following is a common vector for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, causing Chagas disease?
A) Mosquito
B) Tick
C) Kissing bug
D) Flea
5. The immune response that occurs upon subsequent exposure to the same antigen, which is faster and stronger than the primary response, is called the:
A) Primary immune response
B) Secondary immune response
C) Tertiary immune response
D) Innate immune response
6. Which term describes the ability of a parasite to cause disease?
A) Commensalism
B) Mutualism
C) Pathogenicity
D) Symbiosis
7. The complement system is part of which immune defense mechanism?
A) Adaptive immunity
B) Innate immunity
C) Passive immunity
D) Acquired immunity
8. Which disease is caused by the tapeworm Taenia solium?
A) Cysticercosis
B) Echinococcosis
C) Schistosomiasis
D) Ascariasis
9. A parasite that requires at least two different hosts to complete its life cycle is termed:
A) Monoxenous
B) Heteroxenous
C) Stenoxenous
D) Euryxenous
10. Which immune cells are responsible for releasing histamine and mediating allergic reactions?
A) Macrophages
B) Neutrophils
C) Eosinophils
D) Mast cells and Basophils
11. The process by which antigen-presenting cells display fragments of pathogens to T cells is called:
A) Opsonization
B) Antigen presentation
C) Phagocytosis
D) Cytokine release
12. Which of the following is a sexually transmitted parasite?
A) Ascaris lumbricoides
B) Trichomonas vaginalis
C) Plasmodium falciparum
D) Schistosoma mansoni
13. The ability of the immune system to mount a stronger and faster response upon re-exposure to an antigen is due to:
A) Innate immunity
B) Immunological memory
C) Tolerance
D) Cytokine production
14. Which of the following is a common vector for malaria?
A) Tick
B) Mosquito
C) Flea
D) Louse
15. A host that is infected with a parasite but does not show any signs of illness is called a(n):
A) Definitive host
B) Intermediate host
C) Asymptomatic host
D) Reservoir host
16. Which antibody class is primarily found in mucosal secretions like saliva and breast milk?
A) IgG
B) IgM
C) IgA
D) IgE
17. The role of T helper cells (CD4+ T cells) is to:
A) Kill infected cells
B) Suppress the immune response
C) Activate B cells and cytotoxic T cells
D) Engulf pathogens
18. Which parasite causes amoebic dysentery?
A) Giardia lamblia
B) Cryptosporidium parvum
C) Entamoeba histolytica
D) Cyclospora cayetanensis
19. The immune response that occurs after initial exposure to an antigen is known as the:
A) Secondary immune response
B) Tertiary immune response
C) Primary immune response
D) Anamnestic response
20. Which type of immunity is mediated by antibodies circulating in the blood and lymph?
A) Cell-mediated immunity
B) Humoral immunity
C) Innate immunity
D) Adaptive immunity
21. The process by which phagocytes engulf and internalize pathogens is called:
A) Exocytosis
B) Pinocytosis
C) Phagocytosis
D) Endocytosis
22. Which of the following is an example of a protozoan parasite?
A) Taenia saginata
B) Enterobius vermicularis
C) Toxoplasma gondii
D) Ancylostoma duodenale
23. A host that harbors a parasite and can transmit it to other hosts, but may not be the primary host for reproduction, is called a(n):
A) Definitive host
B) Intermediate host
C) Paratenic host
D) Reservoir host
24. Which immune cells are primarily responsible for recognizing and destroying virus-infected cells and tumor cells?
A) B cells
B) T helper cells
C) Natural killer (NK) cells
D) Macrophages
25. The adaptive immune system is characterized by:
A) Rapid, non-specific response
B) Lack of immunological memory
C) Specificity and memory
D) Presence from birth
26. Which parasite causes giardiasis, a common cause of diarrheal illness?
A) Entamoeba histolytica
B) Giardia lamblia
C) Cryptosporidium parvum
D) Cyclospora cayetanensis
27. The phenomenon where a vaccine induces immunity without causing disease is an example of:
A) Passive natural immunity
B) Active artificial immunity
C) Passive artificial immunity
D) Innate immunity
28. Which class of antibodies is typically the first to be produced during a primary immune response?
A) IgG
B) IgA
C) IgM
D) IgE
29. Cytokines are signaling molecules that regulate immune responses. Which of the following is a type of cytokine?
A) Antibody
B) Complement
C) Interferon
D) Phagosome
30. Which of the following is a helminthic parasite?
A) Candida albicans
B) Staphylococcus aureus
C) Ascaris lumbricoides
D) Escherichia coli
31. A host that harbors a parasite but does not contribute to the parasite's transmission to a new host is called a(n):
A) Definitive host
B) Intermediate host
C) Paratenic host
D) Reservoir host
32. Which type of immunity is mediated by T lymphocytes?
A) Humoral immunity
B) Cell-mediated immunity
C) Innate immunity
D) Passive immunity
33. The innate immune system relies on which of the following for its rapid response?
A) Specific antigen recognition
B) Memory cells
C) Pre-existing defense mechanisms
D) Antibody production
34. Which parasite causes trichinosis, often acquired from undercooked pork?
A) Trichuris trichiura
B) Trichinella spiralis
C) Toxoplasma gondii
D) Trypanosoma brucei
35. The phenomenon where an infection in one individual provides protection against subsequent infections by the same pathogen is called:
A) Immunological tolerance
B) Immunological memory
C) Immunological surveillance
D) Immunological homeostasis
36. What is the primary function of cytotoxic T cells?
A) Help B cells produce antibodies
B) Kill infected host cells
C) Suppress immune responses
D) Present antigens to B cells
37. Which of the following is a common vector for Lyme disease?
A) Mosquito
B) Flea
C) Tick
D) Housefly
38. A host that harbors a parasite but does not allow it to sexually reproduce is called a(n):
A) Definitive host
B) Intermediate host
C) Paratenic host
D) Reservoir host
39. The ability of the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self is known as:
A) Immunological memory
B) Immunological tolerance
C) Self-recognition
D) Antigen specificity
40. Acquired immunity that is transferred from mother to fetus across the placenta is an example of:
A) Active natural immunity
B) Active artificial immunity
C) Passive natural immunity
D) Passive artificial immunity
41. Which parasite is responsible for schistosomiasis?
A) Ascaris lumbricoides
B) Schistosoma species
C) Taenia solium
D) Giardia lamblia
42. The process by which immune cells recognize and bind to foreign substances (antigens) is called:
A) Phagocytosis
B) Opsonization
C) Antigen recognition
D) Cytokine signaling
43. Which immune cells are responsible for producing antibodies?
A) T helper cells
B) Cytotoxic T cells
C) Macrophages
D) B cells (Plasma cells)
44. A parasite that lives on the external surface of its host is called a(n):
A) Endoparasite
B) Ectoparasite
C) Mesoparasite
D) Obligate parasite
45. Which component of the innate immune system acts as a physical barrier against pathogens?
A) Antibodies
B) Cytokines
C) Skin and mucous membranes
D) Complement proteins
46. The study of parasites and their hosts is known as:
A) Ecology
B) Virology
C) Parasitology
D) Mycology
47. Which disease is caused by the parasite Plasmodium, transmitted by mosquitoes?
A) Tuberculosis
B) Malaria
C) Typhoid fever
D) Cholera
48. The primary role of antibodies in immunology is to:
A) Engulf and digest pathogens
B) Mark pathogens for destruction by other immune cells
C) Produce cytokines to stimulate inflammation
D) Present antigens to T cells
49. Which type of immunity is acquired through exposure to a pathogen or vaccination?
A) Innate immunity
B) Passive immunity
C) Active immunity
D) Herd immunity
50. A host that harbors the adult, sexually reproducing stage of a parasite is called the:
A) Intermediate host
B) Paratenic host
C) Definitive host
D) Reservoir host