Select the letter of the choice that best completes the statement. The type of microorganisms that are always present, especially on the skin, are calleda. transient flora.b. rickettsia.c. resident flora.d. viruses.
Select the letter of the choice that best completes the statement. The type of microorganisms that are always present, especially on the skin, are called
a. transient flora.
b. rickettsia.
c. resident flora.
d. viruses.
Flora or microbiota are the microorganisms that are normally present in the body. These microorganisms are adapted to live in the skin, vagina, intestine, and oral cavity and are not harmful to the host. They are classified into two main types like resident flora and transient flora.
Reason for correct answer:
Resident flora is one of the types of flora that will always be present in the particular body site like the stratum corneum layer of the skin. They are better adapted to live in the body and are mostly attached deeply to the skin and are not easily removed. They are also referred to as normal flora or resident microbiota and help in reducing the overgrowth of some harmful microorganisms. Therefore, option c is suitable and correct.
Reason for incorrect answer:
Transient flora is another type of flora that resides in a particular site for only a short or limited time period. They do not attach so long in skin as like resident flora and are easily removed by simple hand-washing or alcohol-based sanitizer. Therefore, option a is not suitable and incorrect.
Rickettsia is an intercellular parasite that requires a host cell for their survival. Such kinds of organisms are not usually present in the skin but are transmitted with the help of small flies, ticks, fleas, or by mice. Therefore, option b is not suitable and incorrect.
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that can live only with the help of a host or living cell. They are also disease causing agents that affect the host. Therefore, they are not always present in the body and are mostly eliminated by the body’s immune system. Thus option d is not suitable and incorrect.
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