Which of the following is an example of a fungus?

• A. Tuberculosis
• B. Pink Eye
• C. Sarcoptes
• D. Ringworm

Answer: (D)

This item is testing the ability to recognize different types of organisms by what causes them. Ringworm is the example of a fungus because it is caused by dermatophyte fungi, not by bacteria or parasites. Fungi like Microsporum and Trichophyton grow on skin, hair, or nails and produce the characteristic ring-shaped lesions often called ringworm, even though they are not worms. This contrasts with tuberculosis, which is caused by a bacterium; pink eye, typically caused by viruses or bacteria; and Sarcoptes, a mite that is an ectoparasite. So ringworm represents a fungal infection.