AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)
Microbiology
Easy
“Chikungunya” species belongs to which family?
Appeared in: AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)
Explanation
- Chikungunya virus is an RNA virus belonging to the Alphavirus genus.
- The Alphavirus genus is classified under the larger family known as Togaviridae.
- It is an arbovirus, meaning it is transmitted by arthropod vectors, specifically Aedes mosquitoes.
- The disease is known for causing an abrupt onset of fever and severe, often debilitating, joint pain (arthralgia).
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: This family includes different types of viruses, such as Hantavirus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, which have different structures and transmission cycles.
- Option B: This family includes other significant mosquito-borne arboviruses like Dengue, Zika, and Yellow Fever virus. Although they share a vector with Chikungunya, they are taxonomically distinct.
- Option C: This family includes viruses like Rotavirus, which causes gastroenteritis. These are typically double-stranded RNA viruses, whereas Chikungunya is a single-stranded RNA virus.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Viral classification of Chikungunya virus as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Understanding the viral family is crucial for differential diagnosis. Chikungunya (Togaviridae) and Dengue/Zika (Flaviviridae) are transmitted by the same Aedes mosquitoes and can present with overlapping symptoms like fever and rash, requiring specific lab tests to distinguish.
- Public health interventions, such as mosquito control, target the vector for both Togaviridae (Chikungunya) and many Flaviviridae viruses (Dengue, Zika), making vector control a high-impact strategy for multiple diseases.
- What if? If a patient presented with fever and joint pain but also had significant hemorrhagic signs (like petechiae, bleeding gums) and a drop in platelet count, a clinician would have a higher suspicion for Dengue (a Flavivirus) over Chikungunya, guiding specific diagnostic tests and management for potential severe dengue.
How to Approach the Question
- This is a factual recall question based on virology classification.
- First, identify the specific pathogen mentioned: 'Chikungunya'.
- The question asks for its 'family'. This requires knowledge of viral taxonomy.
- Recall or deduce the classification. Chikungunya is a well-known Alphavirus.
- Connect the genus (Alphavirus) to its family (Togaviridae).
- Mentally check the other options. Flaviviridae is a common distractor because it contains other mosquito-borne viruses like Dengue. Bunyaviridae and Reoviridae contain viruses with different structures and disease profiles.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Viral classification of Chikungunya virus
- Stem keywords: Chikungunya, family
- Lead-in keywords: belongs to which
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QjS1FR4et07TDDKvzYB0yB
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 2024-2026
E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 pp. 1704-1706, 1707-1709
Practise the full AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
More Virology Questions
- Chikungunya species belongs to which family?
- All of the following viruses are transmitted by respiratory route, except?
- Which of the following is the main cause of Japanese encephalitis?
- To which family does the SARS virus belong?
- Which of the following viruses is responsible for the common cold?
- What is not true about rabies
- HIV infection is spread by?
- All of the following are confirmatory tests for H2N2 except?
- Which virus is used to make the rabies vaccine?
- Dengue disease is caused by?
More AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st) Questions
- What is the site of referred pain when pain is arising from the cervix?
- The division of bacterial cells and the exponential increase in their number are indicative of which phase?
- The nursing care that focuses on patient care along with the family needs, in the scope of a multidisciplinary health care team, is called?
- Which is not an indication of oxygen administration?
- What is the average incubation period of chickenpox?
- Which of the following is considered under acute neuropsychiatric complications of AIDS?
- Which of the following is the unit of measurement in bacteriology?
- Melena suggests which of the following?
- Which of the following is the hypertensive Blood Pressure of a 6-year-old child?
- What should be the size of the endotracheal tube for a newborn weighing 2,000 to 3,000 gm?