Conjunctiva philophthalmosis: a case report in Thailand

A 31-year-old Thai woman, a resident of Mapthaphut, Rayong Province, eastern Thailand, attended Rayong Provincial Hospital after suffering from consistent irritation of the eye for 5 days. Examination conducted by an ophthalmologist revealed a small worm moving on the conjunctiva of the right eye. The worm was removed and sent for identification. It was 2.9 mm in length, elongated oval, pharynx very large, ceca end close to the excretory pore, genital pore opens in front of the ventral sucker at the cecal bifurcation; it was identified as Philophthalmus sp., a trematode that parasitizes the eyes of birds. This is the first human case of Philophthalmus infection in Thailand.