Question

Ganciclovir is best used for the treatment of a. West Nile virus b. herpes simplex encephalitis c. bird flu d. cytomegalovirus e. herpes zoster

Short answer

Answer: cytomegalovirus

Step-by-step solution

- Knowledge of Ganciclovir

Ganciclovir is an antiviral drug that is primarily used in the treatment of viral infections caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) and other related viruses. It inhibits viral DNA synthesis and stops the virus from replicating.

- Evaluating the options

Now we will examine each option and analyze if Ganciclovir is best used for the treatment of that virus. a. West Nile virus - Ganciclovir is not commonly used for the treatment of West Nile virus. There are other antiviral medications for this disease. b. herpes simplex encephalitis - Ganciclovir is not the primary treatment for herpes simplex encephalitis. The primary treatment for this condition is Acyclovir. c. bird flu - Ganciclovir is also not commonly used in the treatment of bird flu. For bird flu, antiviral medications like Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) are more efficient. d. cytomegalovirus - This is the primary use of Ganciclovir. It is most effective in treating viral infections caused by the cytomegalovirus. e. herpes zoster - Ganciclovir is not mainly used for the treatment of herpes zoster. The primary treatment for herpes zoster is also Acyclovir.

- Choosing the correct answer

Based on the analysis, the correct option is: d. cytomegalovirus