The protozoa causing sexually transmitted diseases are?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The question asks to identify the protozoan that causes a sexually transmitted disease.
Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite.
It is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide.
Unlike bacteria or viruses, protozoa are single-celled eukaryotic organisms.

Option A: Herpes simplex virus is a virus, not a protozoan. It belongs to the viral category of pathogens.
Option C: Gonococcus, or Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is a bacterium, not a protozoan. It is a common bacterial cause of STIs.
Option D: Chlamydia, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is a bacterial pathogen, not a protozoan.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of pathogens causing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Correctly identifying the type of pathogen (protozoa, bacteria, or virus) is fundamental for selecting the appropriate antimicrobial treatment. For example, antibiotics used for bacteria like Gonococcus or Chlamydia are ineffective against the protozoan Trichomonas.
Patient education is a key nursing role. For trichomoniasis, it is critical to advise the patient that all sexual partners must be treated concurrently to prevent a cycle of reinfection.
What if? If a patient presents with a malodorous vaginal discharge but the wet mount is negative for Trichomonas, the nurse should consider other causes like bacterial vaginosis, which presents with a 'fishy' odor and is diagnosed by finding 'clue cells' on microscopy.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core requirement of the question, which is to find the 'protozoa' among the options.
Define 'protozoa' in your mind: a single-celled eukaryotic organism.
Systematically evaluate each option based on its biological classification.
Option A: Herpes simplex is a well-known virus. Eliminate it.
Option B: Recall or deduce that Trichomonas is a protozoan parasite.
Option C: Gonococcus (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) is a bacterium. Eliminate it.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of pathogens causing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Stem keywords: protozoa, sexually transmitted diseases
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.