Which infection is associated with Negri bodies in brain tissue?

Which infection is associated with Negri bodies in brain tissue?

• A. Rabies
• B. Poliomyelitis
• C. African swine fever
• D. Hantavirus encephalitis

Answer: (A)

Negri bodies are cytoplasmic inclusions in neurons that are classically seen with rabies infection. They form as the rabies virus replicates inside neurons, and their presence in brain tissue—especially in areas like the hippocampus and cerebellar Purkinje cells—has long served as a diagnostic histopathologic clue for rabies. The other infections listed don’t produce these neuronal inclusions; poliomyelitis, African swine fever, and hantavirus encephalitis have different neuropathologic features. In modern practice, confirmation is usually by immunofluorescent staining for rabies antigen in brain tissue, but identifying Negri bodies remains a classic histologic sign of rabies.

Negri bodies are cytoplasmic inclusions in neurons that are classically seen with rabies infection. They form as the rabies virus replicates inside neurons, and their presence in brain tissue—especially in areas like the hippocampus and cerebellar Purkinje cells—has long served as a diagnostic histopathologic clue for rabies. The other infections listed don’t produce these neuronal inclusions; poliomyelitis, African swine fever, and hantavirus encephalitis have different neuropathologic features. In modern practice, confirmation is usually by immunofluorescent staining for rabies antigen in brain tissue, but identifying Negri bodies remains a classic histologic sign of rabies.