E. coli MCQs Quiz: A Set of Questions, Options, and Answers

Introduction

Here is a set of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on E. coli (Escherichia coli) as a quiz.

E. coli MCQ Quiz

1. What is Escherichia coli (E. coli)?

A) Virus
B) Bacterium
C) Fungus
D) Parasite

2. E. coli is classified under which bacterial group?

A) Gram-positive cocci
B) Gram-negative bacilli
C) Acid-fast bacilli
D) Gram-positive bacilli

3. What is the natural habitat of E. coli in humans?

A) Lungs
B) Small intestine
C) Large intestine
D) Stomach

4. Which of the following strains of E. coli is associated with severe diarrhea?

A) Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)
B) Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
C) Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)
D) All of the above

5. What toxin is produced by Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)?

A) Shiga toxin
B) Cholera toxin
C) Diphtheria toxin
D) Botulinum toxin

6. E. coli O157:H7 is associated with which condition?

A) Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
B) Typhoid fever
C) Tetanus
D) Cholera

7. Which of the following tests is used to identify E. coli?

A) Gram stain
B) MacConkey agar
C) Indole test
D) All of the above

8. E. coli ferments lactose on MacConkey agar, producing which color colonies?

A) Yellow
B) Pink
C) Green
D) Clear

9. Which type of E. coli is the most common cause of Traveler’s diarrhea?

A) Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)
B) Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
C) Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)
D) Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)

10. What type of E. coli is primarily responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

A) Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)
B) Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)
C) Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)
D) Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)

11. How is E. coli O157:H7 most commonly transmitted?

A) Airborne droplets
B) Contaminated water or food
C) Mosquito bites
D) Direct contact with blood

12. Which test confirms the production of indole by E. coli?

A) Voges-Proskauer test
B) Indole test
C) Citrate test
D) Urease test

13. E. coli belongs to which family of bacteria?

A) Staphylococcaceae
B) Enterobacteriaceae
C) Bacillaceae
D) Vibrionaceae

14. Which antibiotic is commonly used to treat E. coli infections?

A) Amoxicillin
B) Ciprofloxacin
C) Doxycycline
D) Penicillin

15. What is the shape of E. coli?

A) Spherical
B) Rod-shaped
C) Spiral
D) Comma-shaped

16. Which type of E. coli is associated with neonatal meningitis?

A) Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
B) Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)
C) Neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC)
D) Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)

17. How does E. coli appear under a microscope after Gram staining?

A) Purple spherical cells
B) Pink rod-shaped cells
C) Purple rod-shaped cells
D) Pink spiral-shaped cells

18. Which of the following virulence factors are produced by pathogenic E. coli?

A) Adhesins
B) Toxins
C) Pili
D) All of the above

19. E. coli infections can lead to which life-threatening condition?

A) Septicemia
B) Appendicitis
C) Pneumonia
D) Malaria

20. Which of the following does NOT describe E. coli?

A) Facultative anaerobe
B) Non-spore forming
C) Gram-positive
D) Motile or non-motile

Answer

1. B) Bacterium
2. B) Gram-negative bacilli
3. C) Large intestine
4. D) All of the above
5. A) Shiga toxin
6. A) Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
7. D) All of the above
8. B) Pink
9. B) Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
10. C) Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)
11. B) Contaminated water or food
12. B) Indole test
13. B) Enterobacteriaceae
14. B) Ciprofloxacin
15. B) Rod-shaped
16. C) Neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC)
17. B) Pink rod-shaped cells
18. D) All of the above
19. A) Septicemia
20. C) Gram-positive