Bacteriology: Burkholderia mallei: 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 · Bacteriology: Burkholderia mallei

Sample item

A horse handler has a nodular suppurative skin lesion with lymphangitis and nasal discharge. The organism is a non-motile Gram-negative bacillus. Which disease is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Glanders

Burkholderia mallei causes glanders in equines and occasionally in handlers. Unlike B. pseudomallei of melioidosis, it is non-motile. Anthrax gives a painless eschar and tularaemia follows rabbit or tick exposure.

Option by option

  • A. Tularaemia

    Tularaemia is from Francisella after rabbit or tick exposure.

  • B. Glanders (correct)

    Correct. A non-motile Burkholderia from horses causes glanders.

  • C. Melioidosis

    B. pseudomallei is motile and is acquired from soil and water.

  • D. Anthrax

    Anthrax causes a painless black eschar from a spore-forming Gram-positive rod.

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 B, Glanders. Burkholderia mallei causes glanders in equines and occasionally in handlers.

Why is "Tularaemia" not the answer?

Tularaemia is from Francisella after rabbit or tick exposure.

Why is "Melioidosis" not the answer?

B. pseudomallei is motile and is acquired from soil and water.

Why is "Anthrax" not the answer?

Anthrax causes a painless black eschar from a spore-forming Gram-positive rod.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bacteriology: Burkholderia mallei in Microbiology. Unlike B. pseudomallei of melioidosis, it is non-motile. Anthrax gives a painless eschar and tularaemia follows rabbit or tick exposure.

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 Bacteriology: Burkholderia mallei?

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.