A new worm infiltrating the human cornea: A report of three cases

Purpose: To characterize a new species of parasitic nematode that triggers uveitis. Observations: Three previously healthy, relatively young people each contracted a corneal stromal nematode that, upon surgical removal and examination, did not match any known nematodes. Clinical ocular findings included corneal opacification, visible corneal worms, conjunctival injection, and uveitis. Conclusions and Importance: The three cases presented here represent a previously undescribed parasitic infection of the cornea by an unidentified nematode. These findings may represent a previously unrecognized zoonotic infection from wildlife sources and potentially a newly documented nematode requiring description. Future clinical findings regarding this newly described nematode are needed to further develop our understanding of the disease

Ophthalmologic examination characteristics.

<p>Ophthalmologic examination characteristics.</p

Bivariate fit for RNFL thickness and ALFRS-R progression rate.

<p>No significant correlation between mean RNFL thickness and ALSFRS-R progression rate was found. Again, data shown are from right eyes only, but the same result was obtained from left eyes.</p

Differences in RNFL thickness between ALS subjects and normative database.

<p>Differences in RNFL thickness between ALS subjects and normative database.</p

Retinal thinning in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients without ophthalmic disease - Fig 6

<p><b>Bivariate fit for ALFRS-R score and intraocular pressure (A), and ALFRS-R score and visual acuity (B).</b> (A) No significant correlation between ALSFRS-R score and intraocular pressure (IOP) were found. (B) Similarly, there was no correlation between ALSFRS-R score and visual acuity (VA). Data shown are from right eyes only, but analyses with left eye data were comparable.</p

Representative clinical findings, SD-OCT and macular map from an ALS subject.

<p>OCT results were compared to the age-adjusted normative database by the integrated SD-OCT analysis software. Thin retinal areas are presented in a report format used in a typical clinic visit for ophthalmic examinations.</p

Mean and sectorial RNFL thickness comparison between ALS subjects and age-adjusted normal values.

<p>Total and six sector RNFL values were compared to the age-adjusted normal value utilized by the Spectralis SD-OCT system. The data presented here include mean ± standard error of the mean. Data for the right eye is indicated by OD and the left eye by OS. The right eye group showed significant thinning in total RNFL thickness, temporal sector RNFL thickness, and superonasal sector RNFL thickness. The left eye group had significant thinning in total RNFL thickness, temporal sector RNFL thickness, and superotemporal sector RNFL thickness.</p

Bivariate fit for RNFL thickness and ALFRS-R score.

<p>No significant correlation between mean RNFL thickness and ALSFRS-R score was found. Please note that most ALSFRS-R scores were relatively high, indicating mild ALS disease severity. Data shown are from right eyes only, but we obtained the same result from left eyes: there was no correlation observed between ALSFRS-R and RNFL thinning.</p

Demographic characteristics of the study population.

<p>Demographic characteristics of the study population.</p