PURPOSE Developing a DNA dot hybridization model for diagnosing parasitic keratitis. METHODS Newly designed oligonucleotide probes for detecting Acanthamoeba and microsporidia were tested with target reference strains of Acanthamoeba (n = 20) and microsporidia (n = 3), and non-target microorganisms, including bacteria (n = 20) and fungi (n = 20). These probes, which had passed the preliminary...

PURPOSE To determine risk factors and clinical signs that may differentiate between bacterial, fungal, and acanthamoeba keratitis among patients presenting with presumed infectious keratitis. DESIGN Hospital-based cross-sectional study. METHODS We examined the medical records of 115 patients with laboratory-proven bacterial keratitis, 115 patients with laboratory-proven fungal keratitis, an...

Experimental Acanthamoeba keratitis was induced in Wistar rats by intrastromal inoculation of Acanthamoeba polyphaga cysts. Keratitis developed in all corneas injected and was characterised by a diffuse granular opacity. The animals were examined for 70 days and a gradual reduction of keratitis was observed. Pathological sections showed liquefactive stromal necrosis and Acanthamoeba localised i...

The ocular surface is continuously exposed to potential pathogens, including free-living amoebae. Acanthamoeba species are among the most ubiquitous amoebae, yet Acanthamoeba keratitis is remarkably rare. The pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis is a complex, sequential process. Here we show that Acanthamoeba keratitis is profoundly affected by mannosylated proteins on the ocular surface, whi...

PURPOSE To compare the relative diagnostic value of confocal microscopy and superficial corneal cultures in the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis by using clinical and microbiologic definitions of disease. METHODS Results of confocal microscopy, superficial corneal smear, and superficial corneal culture were analyzed for validity against 2 different microbiologic and a clinical composite st...

acanthamoeba keratitis is a vision-threatening infection caused by pathogenic species of the genus acanthamoeba. in this study, 13 acanthamoeba keratitis cases were diagnosed among 52 keratitis patients. to confirm the identity of acanthamoeba at the genus level, a pcr-based method was used, and their pathogenic potential was determined using in vitro cytotoxicity assays on human corneal epithe...

Acanthamoeba keratitis is an uncommon but potentially devastating complication of contact lens wear. We present a case of Acanthamoeba keratitis in a soft-contact-lens wearer successfully treated with long-term medical therapy and penetrating keratoplasty. To our knowledge this is the first case of Acanthamoeba keratitis diagnosed in Canada.

OBJECTIVES To establish that the protozoan Acanthamoeba is one of the causative organisms associated with non-contact lens-related keratitis in the Indian population and to develop a simple and sensitive diagnostic assay for clinical testing. DESIGN DNA sequencing of nuclear 18S and 26S ribosomal DNA motifs was performed and compared with the reference Acanthamoeba strains, to establish the g...

PURPOSE To determine the role of contact lenses, corneal trauma, and Langerhans cells in the development of keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba organisms in Chinese hamsters. METHODS Various methods were used to induce corneal infections in Chinese hamsters, including application of parasite-laden contact lenses. The role of corneal epithelial defects in promoting parasite binding was examined i...