Matching Diseases to Correct Pathogens

Steps:

• Identify the pathogen for AIDS: HIV, a virus.
• Identify the pathogen for malaria: Plasmodium, a protozoan parasite transmitted by mosquitoes.
• Identify the pathogen for syphilis: Treponema pallidum, a bacterium.
• Compare each option to the actual pathogens to find the match.

Why D is correct:

• Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, as defined in microbiology classifications of spirochete bacteria.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: AIDS is caused by the HIV virus, not a bacterium.
• B: AIDS is caused by the HIV virus, not an insect.
• C: Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium protozoan, not an insect.

Final answer: D