Acanthamoeba sp. keratitis: first case confirmed by isolation and molecular typification in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Some species of the Acanthamoeba genus cause keratitis, a very painful, most likely unilateral corneal infection , associated with eye and vision impairment. We here present a case of a 31-year-old female patient, a regular user of soft contact lenses without good practices of lens hygiene and handl...

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Published inRevista argentina de microbiología Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 122 - 125
Main Authors Gertiser, M L, Giagante, E, Sgattoni, E, Basabe, N, Rivero, F, Luján, H, Occhionero, M, Paniccia, L, Visciarelli, E, Costamagna, S R
Format Journal Article
LanguageSpanish
Published Argentina 01.04.2010
Subjects
Acanthamoeba - classification
Acanthamoeba - genetics
Acanthamoeba - isolation & purification
Acanthamoeba Keratitis - diagnosis
Acanthamoeba Keratitis - epidemiology
Acanthamoeba Keratitis - parasitology
Adult
Argentina - epidemiology
Biopsy
Contact Lens Solutions
Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic - parasitology
DNA, Protozoan - isolation & purification
Drug Contamination
Equipment Contamination
Female
Humans
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sensitivity and Specificity
Argentina
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Summary:Some species of the Acanthamoeba genus cause keratitis, a very painful, most likely unilateral corneal infection , associated with eye and vision impairment. We here present a case of a 31-year-old female patient, a regular user of soft contact lenses without good practices of lens hygiene and handling. The patient attended medical consultation after two months of inflammation and pain in her right eye. After ophthalmological studies, and due to suspicion of a parasitic infection, a biopsy was performed and the sample submitted for bacteriological and parasitological analyses. Moreover, contact lens holders and lens cleaning solutions were studied. The samples yielded negative results for bacterial infection. However, cultivation of all samples showed the presence of amoeboid parasites. Isolated amoebae were morphologically and molecularly classified as members of the Acanthamoeba genus. This is the first case of keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, where the parasite was identified by specific and sensitive molecular techniques.
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ISSN:0325-7541
DOI:10.1590/S0325-75412010000200011