Question

The causative agent of Japanese encephalitis is
A. Bacteria
B. Virus
C. Prions
D. Fungi

Answer 1

The agent of Japanese encephalitis is a submicroscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism and very small in size.

Complete answer:
A virus is the smallest parasite that exists on earth. The size of viruses usually ranges from 0.02 to 0.3μm. Exceptions can be seen in some viruses where the size is as large as 1μm. A virus contains a single nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) in the core that is surrounded by a protein coat. Enzymes for viral replication are also present inside the viral body. Viruses can only replicate within the host cells. Hosts can be animals, plants, and even bacteria. Viruses are classified into different families based on the presence of nucleic acid and its types such as single- or double-stranded or presence of a viral envelope and their mode of replication. Japanese encephalitis is a viral infectious disease. This can affect the nervous system.
It causes mild fever or a headache that rarely leads to severe physiological problems such as occasional inflammation of the brain. The causative agent of Japanese encephalitis is the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). JEV is a flavivirus that is closely related to dengue and West Nile viruses. The disease is most predominant in certain countries in Asia. This infectious disease can be spread through the bite of culicine mosquitoes.
So, the correct answer is option B, i.e., Virus.

Note: Japanese encephalitis have little or no symptoms, occasionally symptoms lead to inflammation of the brain. In many cases, symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and seizures. It can be prevented by avoiding the biting of mosquitoes.