Communicable diseases: Nipah virus reservoir: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Communicable diseases: Nipah virus reservoir

Sample item

In an outbreak in Kerala, several family members and hospital staff develop fever, altered sensorium and respiratory distress after contact with the first case, who had eaten fruit from an orchard where bats roost. What is the natural reservoir of this virus?

ADomestic pigsBPteropus fruit batsCField ratsDRhesus monkeys

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pteropus fruit bats

Nipah virus is a paramyxovirus whose natural reservoir is the fruit bat of the genus Pteropus. Humans acquire it from fruit or sap contaminated by bat secretions, or from other patients through close contact, which explains hospital clusters. Treatment is supportive and strict infection control is essential.

Option by option

A. Domestic pigs
Pigs acted as amplifying hosts in the Malaysian outbreak but are not the natural reservoir.
B. Pteropus fruit bats (correct)
Correct. Pteropus fruit bats are the natural reservoir, and food contaminated by them is a recognised source.
C. Field rats
Rodents are reservoirs for hantavirus and plague, not for this virus.
D. Rhesus monkeys
Monkeys are involved in the cycles of Kyasanur forest disease and yellow fever, not of this virus.

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 PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Pteropus fruit bats. Nipah virus is a paramyxovirus whose natural reservoir is the fruit bat of the genus Pteropus.

Why is "Domestic pigs" not the answer?

Pigs acted as amplifying hosts in the Malaysian outbreak but are not the natural reservoir.

Why is "Field rats" not the answer?

Rodents are reservoirs for hantavirus and plague, not for this virus.

Why is "Rhesus monkeys" not the answer?

Monkeys are involved in the cycles of Kyasanur forest disease and yellow fever, not of this virus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: Nipah virus reservoir in PSM. Humans acquire it from fruit or sap contaminated by bat secretions, or from other patients through close contact, which explains hospital clusters. Treatment is supportive and strict infection control is essential.

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 Communicable diseases: Nipah virus reservoir?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.