Experience of human rabies in north India

Rabies is one of the most common causes of human encephalitis in developing countries. This study shows the diagnosis of rabies among suspected human rabies encephalitis cases by Seller stain, Flourescent stain as well as mouse inoculation test. Out of 71 postmortem brain specimens, 26 were diagnosed as rabies positive. Negri bodies were demonstrated in 18 (25.4%) brain saples by Seller stain. Flourescent antibody technique could detect rabies antigen in 21 (29.6%) samples. Rabies virus could be isolated in 15 (42.9%) of the 35 samples by intracerebral inoculation in 15 (42.9%) of the 35 samples of intracerebral inoculation in newborn Swiss albino mice. Of the 26 confirmed cases, 61.5% occurred during the months of June to August and history of dog bite was present in 9 (34.6%) cases.