Human Thelaziasis: Emerging Ocular Pathogen in Nepal. (15th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sah, Ranjit; Khadka, Shusila; Adhikari, Mahesh; Niraula, Reema; Shah, Apoorva; Khatri, Anadi; Donovan, Suzanne
• Is Part Of: Open forum infectious diseases. Volume 5:Number 10(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-09-15
• Subjects: Nepal -- Phortica variegata -- Thelazia callipaeda -- Thelaziasis -- zoonotic disease; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofy237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-8957

Abstract

Abstract: Thelaziasis is an ocular arthropod-borne, zoonotic disease of the eye infecting the conjunctival sac, lacrimal duct, and lacrimal gland caused by a nematode of the genus Thelazia . We report the first case of human ocular thelaziasis in Nepal in a 6-month-old child from a Rukum district, Nepal. The infant presented with conjunctivitis, and his visual acuity and dilated fundal examination were normal. A total of 6 worms were removed for identification. Collected nematodes were identified based on morphological keys as Thelazia callipaeda . The patient's symptoms improved after removal of the nematodes.