Is the Negri body specific for rabies? A light and electron microscopical study.

Since first described by Negri in 1903, the Negri body has been regarded as a pathognomonic finding in signifying the presence of rabies encephalitis. Negri bodies (light microscope) were found in the brain of a patient with conclusive evidence against the presence of rabies encephalitis. This case provided the opportunity for a pertinent review of the literature in bringing the subject into a reasoned perspective. A definitive etiologic diagnosis of rabies requires the use of electron microscopical or immunofluorescent methods or both.