BCSE BCSE - Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which nutrient deficiency causes 'white muscle disease' (nutritional myodegeneration) in calves and lambs?

Accepted Answer

Selenium and/or vitamin E deficiency

Answer

Calcium deficiency

Answer

Copper deficiency

Answer

Vitamin A deficiency

Question 2

What is the metabolic basis for pregnancy toxemia (ketosis) in ewes?

Accepted Answer

Negative energy balance in late gestation causing mobilization of fat and accumulation of ketone bodies

Answer

Excess dietary carbohydrate causing rumen acidosis

Answer

Primary hypocalcemia from fetal calcium demands

Answer

Hyperglycemia from insulin resistance

Question 3

The amino acid taurine is conditionally essential in cats primarily because cats have limited ability to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Synthesize taurine from cysteine due to low cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase activity

Answer

Absorb taurine from the small intestine

Answer

Recycle taurine from bile acids

Answer

Convert methionine to cysteine

Question 4

Hypophosphatemia in postparturient dairy cows is most commonly associated with which condition?

Accepted Answer

Downer cow syndrome following hypocalcemia (milk fever)

Answer

Grass tetany

Answer

Hardware disease

Answer

Bloat

Question 5

Which vitamin is required for synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X via gamma-carboxylation of glutamate residues?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin K

Answer

Vitamin E

Answer

Vitamin C

Answer

Vitamin B12

Question 6

A dog presenting with dilated cardiomyopathy is placed on a grain-free diet; which nutritional deficiency has been epidemiologically associated with this presentation?

Accepted Answer

Taurine deficiency linked to legume-heavy, grain-free formulations

Answer

Omega-3 fatty acid excess

Answer

Excess dietary sodium

Answer

Magnesium deficiency