Mehmet Aykur, Ozlem Barut Selver, Hande Dagci, Melis Palamar
{"title":"Vermamoeba vermiformis as the etiological agent in a patient with suspected non-Acanthamoeba keratitis","authors":"Mehmet Aykur, Ozlem Barut Selver, Hande Dagci, Melis Palamar","doi":"10.1007/s00436-024-08347-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Vermamoeba vermiformis</i> (<i>V.</i> <i>vermiformis</i>) is one of the most common free-living amoeba (FLA) and is frequently found in environments such as natural freshwater areas, surface waters, soil, and biofilms. <i>V. </i><i>vermiformis</i> has been reported as a pathogen with pathogenic potential for humans and animals<i>.</i> The aim is to report a case of non-<i>Acanthamoeba</i> keratitis in which <i>V. vermiformis</i> was the etiological agent, identified by culture and molecular techniques. Our case was a 48-year-old male patient with a history of trauma to his eye 10 days ago. The patient complained of eye redness and purulent discharge. A slit-lamp examination of the eye revealed a central corneal ulcer with peripheral infiltration extending into the deep stroma. The corneal scraping sample taken from the patient was cultured on a non-nutritious agar plate (NNA). Amoebae were evaluated according to morphological evaluation criteria. It was investigated by PCR method and confirmed by DNA sequence analysis. Although no bacterial or fungal growth was detected in the routine microbiological evaluation of the corneal scraping sample that was cultured, amoeba growth was detected positively in the NNA culture. Meanwhile, <i>Acanthamoeba</i> was detected negative by real-time PCR. However, <i>V. vermiformis</i> was detected positive with the specific PCR assay. It was confirmed by DNA sequence analysis to be considered an etiological pathogenic agent. Thus, topical administration of chlorhexidine gluconate %0.02 (8 × 1) was initiated. Clinical regression was observed 72 h after chlorhexidine initiation, and complete resolution of keratitis with residual scarring was noticed in 5 weeks. In conclusion, corneal infections due to free-living amoebae can occur, especially in poor hygiene. Although <i>Acanthamoeba</i> is the most common keratitis due to amoeba, <i>V. vermiformis</i> is also assumed to associate keratitis in humans. Clinicians should also be aware of other amoebic agents, such as <i>V. vermiformis</i>, in keratitis patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":19968,"journal":{"name":"Parasitology Research","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Parasitology Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08347-2","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PARASITOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Vermamoeba vermiformis (V.vermiformis) is one of the most common free-living amoeba (FLA) and is frequently found in environments such as natural freshwater areas, surface waters, soil, and biofilms. V. vermiformis has been reported as a pathogen with pathogenic potential for humans and animals. The aim is to report a case of non-Acanthamoeba keratitis in which V. vermiformis was the etiological agent, identified by culture and molecular techniques. Our case was a 48-year-old male patient with a history of trauma to his eye 10 days ago. The patient complained of eye redness and purulent discharge. A slit-lamp examination of the eye revealed a central corneal ulcer with peripheral infiltration extending into the deep stroma. The corneal scraping sample taken from the patient was cultured on a non-nutritious agar plate (NNA). Amoebae were evaluated according to morphological evaluation criteria. It was investigated by PCR method and confirmed by DNA sequence analysis. Although no bacterial or fungal growth was detected in the routine microbiological evaluation of the corneal scraping sample that was cultured, amoeba growth was detected positively in the NNA culture. Meanwhile, Acanthamoeba was detected negative by real-time PCR. However, V. vermiformis was detected positive with the specific PCR assay. It was confirmed by DNA sequence analysis to be considered an etiological pathogenic agent. Thus, topical administration of chlorhexidine gluconate %0.02 (8 × 1) was initiated. Clinical regression was observed 72 h after chlorhexidine initiation, and complete resolution of keratitis with residual scarring was noticed in 5 weeks. In conclusion, corneal infections due to free-living amoebae can occur, especially in poor hygiene. Although Acanthamoeba is the most common keratitis due to amoeba, V. vermiformis is also assumed to associate keratitis in humans. Clinicians should also be aware of other amoebic agents, such as V. vermiformis, in keratitis patients.
期刊介绍:
The journal Parasitology Research covers the latest developments in parasitology across a variety of disciplines, including biology, medicine and veterinary medicine. Among many topics discussed are chemotherapy and control of parasitic disease, and the relationship of host and parasite.
Other coverage includes: Protozoology, Helminthology, Entomology; Morphology (incl. Pathomorphology, Ultrastructure); Biochemistry, Physiology including Pathophysiology;
Parasite-Host-Relationships including Immunology and Host Specificity; life history, ecology and epidemiology; and Diagnosis, Chemotherapy and Control of Parasitic Diseases.