What does viscerotrophic mean in the context of African horse sickness?

What does viscerotrophic mean in the context of African horse sickness?

• A. Infects primarily the skin
• B. Has a predilection for the brain
• C. Causes only respiratory disease
• D. Having a predilection for the abdominal and thoracic viscera

Answer: (D)

Viscerotrophic means having a predilection for visceral organs. In African horse sickness, some viral strains preferentially infect the internal organs, especially those in the chest and abdomen, leading to lesions and edema in the viscera such as the heart and lungs (and other abdominal and thoracic organs). This visceral targeting explains the characteristic disease forms involving the internal organs, rather than the skin or brain, so describing a predilection for the abdominal and thoracic viscera is the best fit.

Viscerotrophic means having a predilection for visceral organs. In African horse sickness, some viral strains preferentially infect the internal organs, especially those in the chest and abdomen, leading to lesions and edema in the viscera such as the heart and lungs (and other abdominal and thoracic organs). This visceral targeting explains the characteristic disease forms involving the internal organs, rather than the skin or brain, so describing a predilection for the abdominal and thoracic viscera is the best fit.