Mycology: dimorphic fungi: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Mycology: dimorphic fungi

Sample item

A farmer from Brazil has chronic painful oral ulcers and lymphadenopathy. A smear from the lesion shows a large yeast cell with multiple narrow-necked buds all around it, resembling a ship's wheel. Which organism is it?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis shows a mother yeast cell with multiple peripheral buds, called the pilot wheel or ship's wheel appearance, and causes chronic mucocutaneous and pulmonary disease in Latin America. Blastomyces produces a single broad-based bud, Histoplasma is small intracellular yeast in macrophages, and Coccidioides forms spherules with endospores.

Option by option

  • A. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (correct)

    Correct. Multiple narrow-based buds produce the pilot wheel appearance.

  • B. Coccidioides immitis

    Coccidioides forms large spherules filled with endospores in tissue.

  • C. Histoplasma capsulatum

    Histoplasma appears as small oval yeasts inside macrophages.

  • D. Blastomyces dermatitidis

    Blastomyces has single broad-based budding yeast.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is A, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis shows a mother yeast cell with multiple peripheral buds, called the pilot wheel or ship's wheel appearance, and causes chronic mucocutaneous and pulmonary disease in Latin America.

Why is "Coccidioides immitis" not the answer?

Coccidioides forms large spherules filled with endospores in tissue.

Why is "Histoplasma capsulatum" not the answer?

Histoplasma appears as small oval yeasts inside macrophages.

Why is "Blastomyces dermatitidis" not the answer?

Blastomyces has single broad-based budding yeast.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Mycology: dimorphic fungi in Microbiology. Blastomyces produces a single broad-based bud, Histoplasma is small intracellular yeast in macrophages, and Coccidioides forms spherules with endospores.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Mycology: dimorphic fungi?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.