Cowdry bodies explained

Cowdry bodies are eosinophilic or basophilic^[1] nuclear inclusions composed of nucleic acid and protein seen in cells infected with Herpes simplex virus, Varicella-zoster virus, and Cytomegalovirus. They are named after Edmund Cowdry.

There are two types of intranuclear Cowdry bodies:

• Type A (as seen in herpes simplex and VZV) ^[2]
• Type B (as seen in infection with poliovirus and CMV), though it may seem that this is an antiquated and perhaps illusory type.^[3]

Light microscopy is used for detection of Cowdry bodies.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis. www.pathologyoutlines.com. 2019-04-11.
2. Web site: Herpes Group (Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex, Varicella/Zoster, Epstein-Barr) . 2009-01-02.
3. Web site: Neuropathology blog: Whither the Illusory Cowdry B Inclusion of Polio?. 13 November 2008.