Critical Reasoning

Rheumatic fever is the most serious complication of streptococcal infection, but rheumatic fever is not itself an infection. Rheumatic fever occurs only when, in defending against streptococcal infection, the body's immunological system produces antibodies that also attack the cells of the heart and kidneys.

Which of the following, if true, would contribute most to an explanation of why only streptococcal bacteria give rise to rheumatic fever?

A) Only certain strains of streptococcal bacteria are associated with rheumatic fever.
B) The antibodies that the body produces to control a streptococcal infection can attack cells of the mucous membranes
C) Antibiotics have not proved as effective against streptococcal infections as they have against some other bacterial infections.
D) Streptococcal bacteria are the only bacteria that are structurally similar to the cells of the body attacked in the rheumatic fever.
E) Rheumatic fever can be misdiagnosed if it is not preceded by a serious streptococcal infection.

D

Choice D

Streptococcal bacteria are the only bacteria that are structurally similar to the cells of the body attacked in the rheumatic fever.

Only if this was true the body's immunological system produces antibodies that also attack the cells of the heart and kidneys. The antibodies attack the cells thinking they are Streptococcal bacteria theby leading to rheumatic fever

Yes D makes sense

D.
It seems an Obvious reply as this explains why the antibodies produced attack other organs.[/quote]

It seems to me that the right answer is D.