FREE DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Preventive Medicine and Zoonoses Questions and Answers

Question 1

A client brings a fecal sample from their new 8-week-old puppy.
On fecal flotation, you identify eggs of *Toxocara canis*.
The client has young children and is concerned about health risks.
Which of the following represents the most significant zoonotic risk associated with this parasite in children?

Accepted Answer

Ocular larva migrans, potentially causing unilateral vision loss or strabismus.

Answer

Cutaneous larva migrans, causing intensely pruritic, serpiginous tracks in the skin.

Answer

Neurocysticercosis, leading to seizures and neurological deficits from larval cysts in the brain.

Answer

Hydatid disease, characterized by the formation of large, fluid-filled cysts in the liver and lungs.

Question 2

You are presented with a 4-year-old raccoon that was found acting aggressively in a suburban neighborhood and has now progressed to showing signs of ataxia and hypersalivation. The animal bites one of your technicians during the initial examination. What is the most critical and immediate first step a veterinarian should take in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Euthanize the raccoon and submit the head for rabies testing, and contact public health authorities.

Answer

Administer post-exposure prophylaxis to the technician and the raccoon.

Answer

Immediately begin a 10-day quarantine period for the raccoon to observe for progression of signs.

Answer

Draw blood from the raccoon for a rabies antibody titer to confirm the diagnosis.

Question 3

A commercial poultry producer is designing a new broiler chicken facility and asks for your input on measures to reduce the introduction and spread of *Salmonella enterica*, a major food safety concern. Which of the following biosecurity measures is most critical for preventing the introduction of *Salmonella* into the flock?

Accepted Answer

Sourcing chicks from a certified Salmonella-free hatchery and enforcing strict traffic control for personnel and equipment.

Answer

Implementing a robust vaccination program against Marek's disease.

Answer

Optimizing the lighting program to reduce stress in the flock.

Answer

Using in-feed antibiotics for growth promotion throughout the grow-out period.

Question 4

A dog from Connecticut presents with shifting leg lameness, fever, and lethargy. A point-of-care ELISA test is positive for antibodies to *Borrelia burgdorferi*. This zoonotic disease, Lyme disease, is transmitted by a specific vector. Which of the following is the primary vector for Lyme disease in the northeastern United States?

Accepted Answer

Ixodes scapularis (Black-legged or deer tick)

Answer

Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick)

Answer

Amblyomma americanum (Lone star tick)

Answer

Ctenocephalides felis (Cat flea)

Question 5

Which of the following zoonotic diseases is most commonly transmitted to humans through direct contact with an infected animal's skin lesions or via fomites contaminated with fungal elements?

Accepted Answer

Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)

Answer

Leptospirosis

Answer

West Nile Virus

Answer

Brucellosis

Question 6

Which statement best describes the 'One Health' concept as a core principle of modern preventive medicine?

Accepted Answer

A collaborative, multisectoral approach recognizing that the health of people, animals, and their shared environment are inextricably linked.

Answer

A focus on developing universal vaccines that are effective for both humans and animals.

Answer

The practice of veterinarians and human physicians collaborating on complex surgical cases.

Answer

An approach that primarily manages zoonotic disease outbreaks by focusing on wildlife reservoir eradication.