What does the presence of Negri bodies suggest in a postmortem biopsy?

The presence of Negri bodies in a postmortem biopsy is specifically associated with rabies infection. These bodies are intracellular eosinophilic inclusions that are found in the cytoplasm of neurons in individuals infected with the rabies virus. They represent viral particles and the pathological response of nervous tissue to the viral infection.

Negri bodies are often observed in the brains of animals and humans who have been infected with rabies, and their presence is considered a significant diagnostic marker for confirming the diagnosis of rabies postmortem. The identification of Negri bodies helps pathologists and clinicians to understand that the cause of death may be linked to a rabies infection, which is characterized by its severe central nervous system involvement and progressive neurological decline.

In contrast, the other infections mentioned do not lead to the formation of Negri bodies; hence, they would not be noted in a postmortem biopsy associated with those diseases. For instance, influenza, arboviral, and bacterial infections would show entirely different histopathological findings and mechanisms of pathogenesis.