First Immunohistochemical Characterization of Bovine Rabies in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Libya: A Case Report

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to apply immunohistochemistry (IHC) for detecting the rabies virus (RABV) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) brain tissues from native cattle in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Libya. A brain tissue sample, previously diagnosed with rabies via histopathology, was retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University. IHC was performed using the monoclonal antibody N/P Seren Dr Finke N161/5 (RABV) α-rabbit. Distinct granular viral antigen deposits were observed in the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, confirming rabies infection. No immunoreactivity was detected in the negative control. These findings validate and highlight the potential of IHC as a reliable complementary diagnostic tool in resource-limited settings where fresh tissue samples are unavailable, reinforcing its utility for retrospective studies and outbreak investigations. This work also serves as a follow-up confirmation of Libya’s first reported bovine rabies case in the same region, emphasizing the need for enhanced diagnostic infrastructure to support rabies surveillance and control programs in endemic areas.