Skin lesion in meningococcal meningitidis is due to: (A) Exotoxin, (B) Endotoxin, (C) Allergic reaction, (D) Direct vascular Damage
Answer is B. The endotoxin lipopolysaccharide of Meningococci is released by autolysis.- vascular endothelium is paicularly sensitive to the endotoxin. All major inflammatory cascade systems, as well as cytokines and nitric oxide, are triggered and unregulated. Reference: Textbook of Microbiology; Anathanarayan and panicker's; 10th edition; Page no: 232