Ask me The MCQ Question on the Leprosy in microbiology I will solve them
Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching PubMed
leprosy
Searching the Web
WHO leprosy fact sheet diagnosis treatment 2025
MCQ 1
Mycobacterium leprae cannot be cultured on artificial culture media mainly because it is:
A. An obligate anaerobe
B. An obligate intracellular pathogen
C. A spore-forming bacillus
D. A rapidly growing mycobacterium
B. An obligate intracellular pathogen
C. A spore-forming bacillus
D. A rapidly growing mycobacterium
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
No. Idea
Correct answer: B. An obligate intracellular pathogen
Mycobacterium leprae needs living cells to multiply, so it cannot grow on artificial culture media. It can be propagated experimentally in the mouse footpad and armadillo.
MCQ 2
The stain most commonly used to demonstrate M. leprae in a slit-skin smear is:
A. Gram stain
B. Albert stain
C. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain
D. India ink
B. Albert stain
C. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain
D. India ink
Reply with your answer, or say hint.
C
Correct: C. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain.
In leprosy, slit-skin smears are commonly stained by the modified ZN method using 5% sulfuric acid as the decolorizer, because M. leprae is less acid-fast than M. tuberculosis.
MCQ 3
The optimum temperature for growth of Mycobacterium leprae is approximately:
A. 25°C
B. 30°C
C. 37°C
D. 42°C
B. 30°C
C. 37°C
D. 42°C
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
A
Not quite. The correct answer is B. 30°C.
M. leprae prefers cooler body sites, such as the skin, peripheral nerves, nose, and testes.
MCQ 4
Which form of leprosy has the highest bacillary load and is most infectious?
A. Tuberculoid leprosy
B. Borderline tuberculoid leprosy
C. Lepromatous leprosy
D. Indeterminate leprosy
B. Borderline tuberculoid leprosy
C. Lepromatous leprosy
D. Indeterminate leprosy
C
Reading File
Correct: C. Lepromatous leprosy.
It has poor cell-mediated immunity, numerous bacilli in lesions, and is the most infectious form.
MCQ 5
The characteristic arrangement of M. leprae in slit-skin smear is:
A. Chinese-letter pattern
B. Cord formation
C. Globus formation
D. Palisade arrangement
B. Cord formation
C. Globus formation
D. Palisade arrangement
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
C
Reading File
Correct: C. Globus formation.
In lepromatous leprosy, numerous acid-fast bacilli may be packed in macrophages as clumps called globi.
MCQ 6
Which nerve is most commonly affected in leprosy?
A. Facial nerve
B. Ulnar nerve
C. Phrenic nerve
D. Recurrent laryngeal nerve
B. Ulnar nerve
C. Phrenic nerve
D. Recurrent laryngeal nerve
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Reading File
Reading File
Correct: B. Ulnar nerve.
It is commonly enlarged and palpable behind the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
MCQ 7
Which virulence factor of Mycobacterium leprae contributes to its predilection for peripheral nerves by binding to Schwann cells?
A. Cord factor
B. Phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1)
C. Exotoxin A
D. Protein A
B. Phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1)
C. Exotoxin A
D. Protein A
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching PubMed
leprosy AND Schwann cells
Searching the Web
Mycobacterium leprae phenolic glycolipid 1 Schwann cell binding
Correct: B. Phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1).
PGL-1 helps M. leprae attach to laminin in the Schwann-cell basal lamina, supporting peripheral nerve invasion.
MCQ 8
The lepromin skin test is usually strongly positive in:
A. Lepromatous leprosy
B. Tuberculoid leprosy
C. Histoid leprosy
D. All forms of leprosy equally
B. Tuberculoid leprosy
C. Histoid leprosy
D. All forms of leprosy equally
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Reading File
Correct: B. Tuberculoid leprosy.
It indicates strong cell-mediated immunity. It is usually negative in lepromatous leprosy.
MCQ 9
A patient with leprosy develops painful, tender erythematous nodules, fever, and malaise. This is most likely:
A. Type 1 lepra reaction
B. Type 2 lepra reaction, erythema nodosum leprosum
C. Lucio phenomenon
D. Indeterminate leprosy
B. Type 2 lepra reaction, erythema nodosum leprosum
C. Lucio phenomenon
D. Indeterminate leprosy
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Reading File
Reading File
Correct: B. Type 2 lepra reaction, erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL).
It occurs mainly in multibacillary leprosy and presents with tender erythematous nodules plus systemic symptoms such as fever and malaise.
MCQ 10
The most important mode of transmission of leprosy is:
A. Contaminated food and water
B. Mosquito bite
C. Prolonged close contact through respiratory droplets
D. Sexual transmission
B. Mosquito bite
C. Prolonged close contact through respiratory droplets
D. Sexual transmission
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
C
Reading File
Reading File
Reading File
Correct: C. Prolonged close contact through respiratory droplets.
Untreated multibacillary patients may shed bacilli from nasal secretions. Leprosy is not highly contagious, and effective multidrug therapy rapidly reduces infectivity.
MCQ 11
Which of the following is NOT included in the standard multidrug therapy for multibacillary leprosy?
A. Rifampicin
B. Dapsone
C. Clofazimine
D. Isoniazid
B. Dapsone
C. Clofazimine
D. Isoniazid
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
I don't know about the treatment of
Reading File
For the previous MCQ, the answer is D. Isoniazid.
Standard multidrug therapy for multibacillary leprosy uses:
- Rifampicin
- Clofazimine
- Dapsone
Mnemonic: RCD.
Isoniazid is used for tuberculosis, not routine leprosy MDT.
Isoniazid is used for tuberculosis, not routine leprosy MDT.
We will skip treatment questions for now.
MCQ 12
The incubation period of leprosy is usually:
A. 1-2 days
B. 1-2 weeks
C. 2-5 years
D. More than 20 years in every case
B. 1-2 weeks
C. 2-5 years
D. More than 20 years in every case
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
C
Reading File
Reading File
Reading File
Reading File
Reading File
Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching PubMed
leprosy incubation
Searching the Web
leprosy incubation period WHO
Correct: C. 2-5 years.
Leprosy has a long incubation period, averaging about 3-5 years. It may range from about 2 years to 10 years or longer, and rarely symptoms can take up to 20 years to develop.
MCQ 13
Which is the most characteristic sensory impairment in a skin lesion of leprosy?
A. Loss of pain and temperature sensation
B. Loss of hearing
C. Loss of taste
D. Loss of vision
B. Loss of hearing
C. Loss of taste
D. Loss of vision
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
A
Reading File
Reading File
Correct: A. Loss of pain and temperature sensation.
A hypopigmented or erythematous skin patch with sensory loss is a key feature of leprosy.
MCQ 14
The bacillary index in leprosy is determined using:
A. Blood culture
B. Slit-skin smear
C. Mantoux test
D. Urine culture
B. Slit-skin smear
C. Mantoux test
D. Urine culture
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Finding Sources
Searching PubMed
leprosy bacillary index
Searching the Web
leprosy bacillary index slit skin smear WHO
Correct: B. Slit-skin smear.
The bacillary index measures the density of acid-fast bacilli in slit-skin smears, graded from 0 to 6.
MCQ 15
Which clinical form of leprosy typically has few, well-defined anesthetic skin lesions with strong cell-mediated immunity?
A. Lepromatous leprosy
B. Tuberculoid leprosy
C. Borderline lepromatous leprosy
D. Histoid leprosy
B. Tuberculoid leprosy
C. Borderline lepromatous leprosy
D. Histoid leprosy
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Reading File
Correct: B. Tuberculoid leprosy.
It usually has few, sharply demarcated hypopigmented or erythematous lesions with marked sensory loss. Bacilli are scanty or absent because cell-mediated immunity is strong.
MCQ 16
Which animal is classically used for experimental propagation of Mycobacterium leprae because it develops widespread infection?
A. Rabbit
B. Armadillo
C. Guinea pig
D. Monkey
B. Armadillo
C. Guinea pig
D. Monkey
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Reading File
Reading File
Correct: B. Armadillo.
The nine-banded armadillo is used for experimental propagation of M. leprae because its relatively low body temperature favors bacterial multiplication. The mouse footpad is also used, but it yields a more limited infection.
MCQ 17
Which form of leprosy is associated with symmetric, diffuse skin lesions, nodules, and a high bacillary index?
A. Tuberculoid leprosy
B. Lepromatous leprosy
C. Indeterminate leprosy
D. Borderline tuberculoid leprosy
B. Lepromatous leprosy
C. Indeterminate leprosy
D. Borderline tuberculoid leprosy
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
B
Reading File
Correct: B. Lepromatous leprosy.
It is the multibacillary pole of the spectrum, with numerous bacilli, widespread symmetrical lesions, and weak cell-mediated immunity.
MCQ 18
Which feature is most characteristic of Type 1 lepra reaction?
A. Tender erythematous nodules with fever
B. Sudden inflammation of existing skin lesions with acute neuritis
C. Widespread necrotic skin ulcers due to vasculitis
D. Diffuse infiltration with a high bacillary index
B. Sudden inflammation of existing skin lesions with acute neuritis
C. Widespread necrotic skin ulcers due to vasculitis
D. Diffuse infiltration with a high bacillary index
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
No Idea
Reading File
Your credits are exhausted. You can purchase a top-up or subscribe to a plan to continue using Orris. If you're already subscribed, your daily credits will reset tomorrow.
Continue with more leprosy microbiology MCQs
Your credits are exhausted. You can purchase a top-up or subscribe to a plan to continue using Orris. If you're already subscribed, your daily credits will reset tomorrow.
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.