**Core Concept**
Negri bodies are viral inclusions found in the cytoplasm of neurons infected with the rabies virus. They are a characteristic histopathological feature of rabies, formed by the aggregation of viral nucleocapsids.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Negri bodies are typically detected in the neurons of the hippocampus, cerebellum, and Purkinje cells. Their presence is a diagnostic hallmark of rabies, although they are not always present. The rabies virus, a lyssavirus, replicates within the neurons, leading to the formation of these characteristic inclusions. The viral nucleocapsid is composed of the viral RNA and the nucleoprotein, which aggregates to form the Negri body.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because Negri bodies are not typically found in the neurons of the cerebral cortex.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because Negri bodies are not a feature of other viral infections that affect the nervous system, such as herpes simplex encephalitis.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because Negri bodies are not a characteristic feature of prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Negri bodies are a classic example of a viral inclusion body, and their presence is a diagnostic hallmark of rabies. Remember that Negri bodies are typically found in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and Purkinje cells.

**Correct Answer:** C.