Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine exam questions: topics, study tips and free sample questions

Answer: E. New tank syndrome is a buildup of ammonia metabolites due to lack of bacteria in new tanks. It can take up to 6 weeks for a new tank to become efficient in nitrogen metabolism. In well-established aquariums, bacterial flora metabolizes ammonium to nitrite and nitrate. Nitrogen metabolite levels (e.g., ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite) must be weekly monitored in the habitat using a water-test kit. Ammonia is continuously produced by the aquatic amphibians and any unfinished food. Excess nitrogen metabolites is acommon cause of death in aquatic amphibians. Old tank syndrome occurs after months of tank mismanagement leading to very high ammonia and very low pH when the buffering system becomes overwhelmed.

Answer: C. Mannheimia haemolytica is an opportunistic pneumonia- causing bacterium typically discussed along with Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somnus as bacterial contributors to Bovine Respiratory Disease complex (BRD). Basically, BRD is shorthand for the complex interaction between stresses (ie: crowding, shipping), pathogenic viruses and bacteria and normal respiratory bacterial flora that can overgrow in a stressed animal. Mycobacterium bovis (bovine TB), Coxiella burnetii, the cause of Q fever, Brucella and Listeria can all be transmitted in the milk. The Cornell Milk Facts page is a useful

Answer: A. The preferred answer is "nothing". Campylobacter jejuni from contaminated chicken is one of the leading causes of enterocolitis IN HUMANS, but the chickens themselves are asymptomatic.