Identification of Acanthamoeba cysts and trophozoites in ocular tissues requires considerable expertise and is often time-consuming. An 18S rRNA gene-based PCR test, highly specific for the genus Acanthamoeba, has recently been reported in the molecular diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis. This PCR assay was compared with conventional microbiological tests for the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba kera...

AIMS To evaluate a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assay to detect fungi in scrapings from infected corneas. METHODS A PCR assay was developed to amplify a portion of the fungal 18S ribosome gene. Corneal scrapings from 30 patients with presumed infectious keratitis were evaluated using this assay, as well as by standard microbiological techniques, and the results were compared. Conjunc...

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a type of protozoa keratitis caused by free-living fresh water Amoeba. It recently gains importance because of increasing incidence, difficulty in diagnosis and unsatisfactory treatment. It is seen more commonly in contact lens wear using homemade saline or may be in non-contact lens wearers due to swimming or bathing in contaminated water. This infection is commonly c...

Aim—To study the use of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of severe fungal keratitis that could not be cured by antifungal medication. Methods—A retrospective analysis of 108 cases of severe fungal keratitis in which PKP was performed served as the basis for this study. Fungal keratitis was diagnosed by KOH staining of corneal scrapings or by confocal microscopic imaging of the c...

PURPOSE To report a case of Candida keratitis following penetrating keratoplasty in a patient with Candidiasis of the fingernails. CASE REPORT An 80 year-old male presented with recurrent Candida keratitis following penetrating keratoplasty. Patient was found to have evidence of Candidiasis of the fingernails. COMMENT Candidiasis of the fingernails have led to recurrent fungal keratitis fol...

Candida albicans is the most frequent cause of fungal keratitis in temperate regions. Caspofungin has potent activity against Candida spp. in a variety of clinical settings. Little is known, however, about its activity against fungal keratitis. We compared the efficacy of topical caspofungin with that of topical amphotericin B (AMB) in a rabbit model of experimental keratomycosis. Keratitis was...

Purpose Developing immunotherapies for fungal eye infections is a high priority. We analyzed fungal pathogens for expression of the surface polysaccharide, poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG), and used a mouse model of ocular keratitis caused by Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, or Fusarium solani to determine if PNAG was an immunotherapy target and requirements for ancillary cellular and molecula...