Molecular identification of microsporidian species in patients with epithelial keratitis. Issue 3 (3rd February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sanpool, Oranuch; Thanathanee, Onsiri; Laummuanwai, Porntip; Maleewong, Wanchai; Intapan, Pewpan M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical microbiology. Volume 69:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 414
• Page End: 418
• Publication Date: 2020-02-03
• Subjects: ocular microsporidiosis -- Microsporidium -- Vittaforma corneae -- molecular identification -- microbial epidemiology; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2615

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction. Ocular microsporidiosis is a significant emerging infectious disease reported in immunocompromised patients and immunocompetent persons throughout the world. Aim. To identify the pathogens responsible for human keratitis, via corneal scrapings. Methodology. Thirty-three hospitalized patients with epithelial keratitis were examined using staining and DNA sequencing. DNA was extracted from corneal samples and the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Results. Twenty-one samples were positive by staining while PCR generated amplicons in 18 cases. Of the 18 sequences, 16 were identical with, or very similar to, those of Vittaforma corneae (99–100 % similarity) and the remaining two sequences were similar to that of unidentified Microsporidium species deposited in the GenBank. Conclusion. This study has reconfirmed that V. corneae causes epithelial keratitis in humans and that a newly detected Microsporidium species is also involved in microsporidial keratitis as one of the emerging pathogens in Thailand. Ophthalomologists should be aware of microsporidial keratitis in people from Thailand and those from neighbouring countries.