What is the best method to determine if a boy has contracted rabies after exposure to wild raccoons?

The most effective method to determine if a boy has contracted rabies after exposure to wild raccoons is to request an immunofluorescent test for antigen in cutaneous nerves obtained by a nuchal biopsy of the patient. This method is particularly relevant because rabies virus infects the nervous system and can be detected in neural tissue.

The nuchal biopsy involves taking a small sample of the tissue at the base of the skull, where cutaneous nerves can be accessed. By looking for the presence of rabies virus antigens specifically in the nervous tissue, clinicians can effectively diagnose rabies in an individual who has been exposed, especially in the absence of classical symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

This approach is more direct and specific to rabies than other options, such as examining the brainstems of raccoons, which, while informative for studying the animals themselves, does not provide immediate insight into the health status of the exposed individual. Testing the saliva from the raccoons is also not a definitive method for determining if the boy contracted the virus, as rabies virus can sometimes be intermittent in saliva and may not represent the full picture of exposure.

Overall, the immunofluorescent test for antigens