Question

Which of the following organ gets infected by Japanese encephalitis?
A. Kidney
B. Brain
C. Liver
D. Lungs

Answer 1

Hint: Japanese encephalitis is a type of viral disease which infects animals and humans. It is transmitted through mosquitoes in humans causing inflammation of the membranes. They are mostly prevalent in Asian and Western pacific countries. Some of the symptoms of Japanese encephalitis include fever, headache, neck stiffness, coma, seizures, paralysis and even death.

Complete answer:
Option A Kidney: Kidney is a bean shaped organ that is present in the abdomen. They help to remove waste from the body as urine. They also help filter the blood. Kidneys are not affected during Japanese encephalitis infection (JE).
Option A is incorrect.
Option B Brain: Brain is the centre of the nervous system. The target organ of Japanese encephalitis virus is the brain, where it causes infection and inflammation of brain tissues. It leads to increased microglial activation in the brain which can have toxic effects on the whole central nervous system.
Option B is correct.
Option C Liver: Liver acts as a storehouse for blood and regulates blood volume. It produces prothrombin and fibrinogen which are essential for blood clotting. They are not affected by the JE virus.
Option C is incorrect.
Option D Lungs: The lungs are a pair of air-filled, spongy organs located on either side of the chest. They deliver inhaled oxygen to the blood through alveoli. They are not the target organ for JE virus.
Option D is incorrect.

Hence, Option B. Brain is the correct answer

Note:
Japanese encephalitis is generally spread by mosquitoes. The virus can also spread by pigs and wild birds. Blood or cerebrospinal fluid testing is done for the diagnosis of JE. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for prevention which is both safe and effective. Avoiding mosquito bites is also necessary to prevent the infection.