Which of the following statements about the epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis in India is CORRECT?
- A Humans are the amplifying hosts and pigs are dead-end hosts
- B The principal vector is Anopheles culicifacies
- C CSF shows lymphocytic pleocytosis with normal glucose and IgM antibodies detected by ELISA ✓
- D Isolation of the virus from blood confirms the diagnosis in most cases
Correct answer: C. CSF shows lymphocytic pleocytosis with normal glucose and IgM antibodies detected by ELISA
Explanation
Japanese encephalitis virus produces aseptic meningitis or encephalitis with CSF showing lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein, and normal glucose; virus-specific IgM capture ELISA in CSF is the diagnostic standard. Wading birds and pigs are amplifying hosts, humans are dead-end hosts with brief viremia. The vector is Culex tritaeniorhynchus, which breeds in rice paddies. Viremia in humans is low and transient, so blood culture rarely yields the virus.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 26th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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