Which virus is known to destroy motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem during poliomyelitis?

Poliovirus is the causative agent of poliomyelitis, a disease characterized by the destruction of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. The poliovirus specifically targets motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis in affected individuals. This damage occurs because the virus enters the body, usually through the oral route, replicates in the gastrointestinal tract, and then disseminates to the central nervous system. Once within the CNS, it can infect and destroy motor neurons, resulting in the clinical symptoms associated with poliomyelitis.

In contrast, the other viruses listed do not have the same association with motor neuron destruction or the central nervous system. Rhinovirus primarily causes upper respiratory infections, herpesvirus has a variety of strains affecting different parts of the body, often associated with conditions like cold sores, and Epstein-Barr virus is known for causing infectious mononucleosis. None of these viruses have the same pathogenic effect on the motor neurons that poliovirus does, highlighting why poliovirus is the correct answer in this context.