Virology: chikungunya: 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 · Virology: chikungunya

Sample item

A 45-year-old woman has fever, rash and severe symmetric small-joint pain after a mosquito season. Joint pain persists for months despite resolution of fever. Which statement about the causative agent is correct?

AA flavivirus transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, with cerebral involvementBA flavivirus transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, with hepatic necrosisCA bunyavirus transmitted by ticks, with haemorrhageDAn alphavirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, with arthralgia that may persist for months

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. An alphavirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, with arthralgia that may persist for months

Chikungunya virus is a togavirus of the alphavirus genus spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The name means that which bends up, from the stooped posture caused by severe polyarthralgia, which can last for months. Haemorrhage and shock are uncommon, unlike in dengue.

Option by option

A. A flavivirus transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, with cerebral involvement
Anopheles is the vector of malaria parasites, not of chikungunya virus, which is an alphavirus spread by Aedes.
B. A flavivirus transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, with hepatic necrosis
Culex-borne flavivirus with hepatic necrosis does not match this illness.
C. A bunyavirus transmitted by ticks, with haemorrhage
Tick-borne bunyavirus illnesses cause haemorrhagic fever rather than chronic polyarthralgia.
D. An alphavirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, with arthralgia that may persist for months (correct)
Correct. Aedes-borne alphavirus with prolonged arthralgia describes chikungunya.

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.

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is D, An alphavirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, with arthralgia that may persist for months. Chikungunya virus is a togavirus of the alphavirus genus spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Why is "A flavivirus transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, with cerebral invol…" not the answer?

Anopheles is the vector of malaria parasites, not of chikungunya virus, which is an alphavirus spread by Aedes.

Why is "A flavivirus transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, with hepatic necrosis" not the answer?

Culex-borne flavivirus with hepatic necrosis does not match this illness.

Why is "A bunyavirus transmitted by ticks, with haemorrhage" not the answer?

Tick-borne bunyavirus illnesses cause haemorrhagic fever rather than chronic polyarthralgia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Virology: chikungunya in Microbiology. The name means that which bends up, from the stooped posture caused by severe polyarthralgia, which can last for months. Haemorrhage and shock are uncommon, unlike in dengue.

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 Virology: chikungunya?

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.