Negri bodies are associated with which of the following?


a. Marburg virus
b. Hantavirus
c. Coltivirus
d. Rabies virus

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what Negri bodies are. Negri bodies are cytoplasmic inclusion bodies found in certain infected cells, specifically neurons, and are used as a diagnostic feature in microbiology.
2. Step 2: Recall which virus is classically associated with Negri bodies. These inclusion bodies are characteristic of infections caused by the rabies virus.
3. Step 3: Review the options given: Marburg virus, hantavirus, coltivirus, and rabies virus. Consider the known pathology and diagnostic features of each virus.
4. Step 4: Recognize that Marburg virus is a filovirus causing hemorrhagic fever, hantavirus causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and coltivirus is associated with Colorado tick fever; none of these are known to produce Negri bodies.
5. Step 5: Conclude that Negri bodies are specifically linked to the rabies virus, which is a neurotropic virus causing fatal encephalitis, and their presence in neurons is a hallmark for diagnosis.

Key Concepts

Negri Bodies

Negri bodies are eosinophilic, cytoplasmic inclusion bodies found in neurons infected by the rabies virus. They serve as a diagnostic hallmark in brain tissue during rabies infection and represent sites of viral replication.

Rabies Virus

Rabies virus is a neurotropic virus from the Lyssavirus genus that causes fatal encephalitis in mammals. It travels through peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, where it induces characteristic pathological changes including Negri bodies.

Viral Inclusion Bodies

Viral inclusion bodies are aggregates of viral particles or altered host cell components visible under a microscope. They help in identifying specific viral infections, as different viruses produce distinct types of inclusion bodies in infected cells.