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Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis after rugby tournament, Singapore

Junda Tan, Phoebe Lee, Yingqi Lai

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |August 23, 2013
    PubMed

    Insights

    An outbreak of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis occurred during a 2012 rugby tournament in Singapore. Eye contact with contaminated soil was the likely transmission route, with Vittaforma corneae identified in patient samples.

    Area of Science:

    • Ophthalmology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Microbiology

    Background:

    • Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis is an infection of the eye caused by microsporidia.
    • Outbreaks can occur in various settings, necessitating investigation into transmission routes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate an outbreak of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in Singapore.
    • To identify the causative agent and transmission pathway of the infection.

    Main Methods:

    • Case ascertainment of probable and confirmed infections.
    • Microscopic examination of corneal scrapings.
    • Microbiological analysis of environmental soil samples.

    Main Results:

    • 47 probable and 6 confirmed cases of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis were identified.
    • Transmission was linked to eye contact with soil.
    • Vittaforma corneae was identified in corneal scrapings and soil samples.

    Conclusions:

    • Soil contamination is a significant risk factor for microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis outbreaks.
    • Vittaforma corneae is a likely causative agent in this outbreak.
    • Preventive measures should focus on avoiding soil contact with the eyes.
    Keywords:
    MicrosporidiaSingaporeVittaforma corneaefungikeratoconjunctivitisparasites

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