microbiology basic and clinical principles test bank Related

Review microbiology basic and clinical principles test bank related questions and content

Which of the following bacteria produce exotoxins that cause severe gastrointestinal illness?

  • A. Clostridium botulinum
  • B. Vibrio cholerae
  • C. Escherichia coli
  • D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D (All of the above) because all three bacteria listed produce exotoxins that cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxin causing botulism. Vibrio cholerae produces cholera toxin leading to cholera. Escherichia coli can produce various exotoxins causing different types of severe gastrointestinal illnesses like E. coli O157:H7 causing bloody diarrhea. Therefore, all choices A, B, and C are correct in this case as they all produce exotoxins causing severe gastrointestinal illness.