This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Viral Infections  • Diagnosis  • Dermatology, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic

Antonio L. Perez, BA; Andrew E. Werchniak, MD

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Rabies is a Lyssavirus infection of mammals most commonly transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. Although rare in the United States thanks to decades of control efforts, it remains a significant worldwide public health problem. Historically, definitive diagnosis has been achieved via postmortem brain biopsy. However, several antemortem tests are now available, including nuchal skin biopsy for detection of the presence of rabies virus in cutaneous nerves. Since dermatologists are often called on to perform this biopsy, familiarity with this test and the rationale behind its use is useful despite the fact that rabies does not have skin manifestations.

After a bite from a rabid animal, virus proliferates in host tissue at the site of injury and invades peripheral nerves. Through retrograde transport along axons, it then spreads to the central nervous system. The virus becomes widely distributed in the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

AUTHOR INFORMATION