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

White muscle disease results from inadequate selenium and/or vitamin E, antioxidants that protect muscle membranes from oxidative damage.

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

In late gestation with multiple fetuses, the ewe's energy demands exceed intake, forcing hepatic fat mobilization and ketogenesis that overwhelms clearance capacity.

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

Cats have very low hepatic cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase activity, severely limiting endogenous taurine synthesis from 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

Severe hypophosphatemia is a common sequela to milk fever and contributes to recumbency by impairing ATP production needed for muscle contraction.

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 K is the essential cofactor for gamma-glutamyl carboxylase, which activates the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors by carboxylating glutamate residues.

BCSE - Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination Practice Test

BCSE - Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination Practice Test

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