Title:Acrophialophora fusispora as an Agent of Mycotic Keratitis: A Case
Report and Review of Literature
Volume: 23
Issue: 3
Author(s): Swati Sharma, Nidhi Singla*, Neelam Gulati, Sudesh Kumar Arya and Jagdish Chander
Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology and Ophthalmology, Government Medical College Hospital, Chandigarh, India
Keywords:
Acrophialophora fusispora, keratomycosis, sequencing, keratitis, SDA, eye infection.
Abstract:
Background: Acrophialophora species is an infrequent human opportunistic pathogen. It is
widely distributed in temperate as well as tropical regions. Here, we present a rare case of fungal keratitis
caused by A. fusispora.
Case Presentation: A 26-year male driver presented with pain, watering, redness, whitish discoloration,
and blurring of vision in the left eye for the last 3-4 days. Upon examination, he had a dry-looking
corneal ulcer with infiltration and satellite lesions. Corneal scrapings were positive for septate fungal
hyphae by Gram staining and KOH mount. After five days, the growth observed was presumptively
identified as genus Acrophialophora and finally identified as Acrophialophora fusispora by genetic
sequencing. The patient failed to respond medically and was planned for therapeutic keratoplasty.
Discussion: To date, four cases of ocular involvement due to Acrophialophora have been described.
Amongst which one case was associated with an immunocompromised state. Three of the cases were
resolved medically, while one required therapeutic keratoplasty, indicating possible strong pathogenicity
to the eye.
Conclusion: As Acrophialophora seems to have a predilection for eye infections, an early diagnosis
with timely appropriate treatment is the best way to restore the normal vision of a patient.
