Which is a disease that can be caused due to infected milk?

ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (shift-1)

Microbiology

Easy

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (shift-1)

Explanation

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
The gastrointestinal form of anthrax is contracted by ingesting spores from contaminated products of infected animals, which includes unpasteurized milk and undercooked meat.
Livestock such as cattle and goats are primary reservoirs for B. anthracis, and their milk can become a vehicle for transmission if the animal is infected.

Option B: Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining. Its primary causes are infection with Helicobacter pylori, chronic use of NSAIDs, and excessive alcohol intake, not infected milk.
Option C: Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, typically caused by viral or bacterial (e.g., Streptococcus pyogenes) infections that spread via respiratory droplets.
Option D: Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune, post-infectious complication that arises after an inadequately treated Group A streptococcal infection (like strep throat). It is not transmitted directly through any medium, including milk.

Visual 1: Infographic: Transmission cycle of Anthrax, showing the role of livestock, soil, and animal products in spreading the disease to humans.
Visual 2: Chart: Common milk-borne diseases and their causative agents (e.g., Brucellosis, Listeriosis, Q Fever, Tuberculosis).
Visual 3: Diagram: The process of milk pasteurization (High-Temperature Short-Time method) and how it eliminates pathogens.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Identification of milk-borne zoonotic diseases and their transmission routes helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a vital role in community health education, particularly in rural areas, by teaching the importance of consuming only pasteurized or boiled milk to prevent zoonotic diseases.
When a patient presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, a thorough history, including dietary habits (like consumption of raw milk or undercooked meat) and occupational exposure (e.g., farming, veterinary work), is crucial for differential diagnosis.
What if? If a patient from a farming community presents with a black, painless skin ulcer (eschar) and fever, the nurse should have a high index of suspicion for cutaneous anthrax and ensure immediate medical evaluation and implementation of infection control precautions.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question to identify the core concept: diseases transmitted through 'infected milk'. This points towards zoonotic diseases and foodborne illnesses.
Next, evaluate each option based on your knowledge of its primary mode of transmission.
Consider Anthrax: Recall or deduce that it's a disease of livestock (Bacillus anthracis) and that products from infected animals can transmit it. Ingestion is a known route.
Consider Gastritis: Recognize its common causes are H. pylori infection, NSAIDs, and alcohol, which are unrelated to milk-borne pathogens.
Consider Tonsillitis: Identify this as a common respiratory infection, spread by droplets, not a foodborne route.
Consider Rheumatic Fever: Remember this is a post-streptococcal autoimmune reaction, not a direct infection transmitted by milk.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of milk-borne zoonotic diseases and their transmission routes.
Stem keywords: disease, infected milk
Lead-in keywords: Which

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