Shokeir & Elgaboury's
Alloxan-Schiff for Rabies Virus

Solutions

Schiff reagent

Alloxan solution
Alloxan	1	g
Distilled water	100	mL

Tissue sample
Best results are obtained with 5 µ paraffin sections fixed in one of the following:

• Neutral buffered formalin
  
• Carnoy
  
• Ethanol
  
• 5% acetic ethanol
  
• 1% trichloracetic acid in 60% ethanol
  
• Dubosq-Brasil fluid

Method

1. Bring sections to water via xylene and ethanol.
2. Place into the alloxan solution at 37°C for 24 hours.
3. Wash gently with tap water for 5 minutes.
4. Place into Schiff's reagent for 15 minutes in the dark.
5. Wash with running tap water for 10 minutes.
6. Dehydrate with ethanol, clear in xylene and mount with a resinous medium (Canada balsam specified).

Expected results

• Fixed rabies virus  –  pink-brown

Notes

1. The authors note that this technique will demonstrate fixed rabies virus, but is not specific for them.

 

Reference
Shokeir, A. A., and Elbagoury, S. M.
Alloxan-Schiff reagent for the detection of fixed rabies virus in the nerve cell
J. med. Lab. Tech. (1966) v23, p. 191-193