Ocular basidiobolomycosis - Rare presentation: A case report

Basidiobolus ranarum is an uncommon pathogen in ocular infections. It has been previously reported from subcutaneous and gastrointestinal infections. Here, we report a rare case of ocular infection caused by B. ranarum. A 21-year-old male patient presented with visual loss and pain in the right eye due to corneal abscess following an injury while welding. KOH mount performed was indicative of fungal hyphae. Fungal culture revealed growth of B. ranarum. Meanwhile, the patient was treated with antifungal (topical natamycin and oral ketoconazole) along with total corneal transplantation. B. ranarum is a fungus very uncommonly causing ocular pathogenesis. This results in diagnostic confusion leading to poor treatment outcomes. Hence, a mycology laboratory has to be aware about this fungus and need to consider it as a differential diagnosis in patients with infectious corneal abscess.