Isolation of Rabies Virus Outside the Human Central Nervous System

Rabies virus was isolated from extraneural organs of 15 of 17 persons who died of rabies in Cali, Colombia during a three-year period. Among the extraneural organs examined, virus was found in the myocardium, skeletal muscle, lung, liver, and kidney. Virus was simultaneously isolated from extraneural organs and peripheral nerve, except in two cases where rabies vaccine had been given.