title: Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in a patient without human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a case of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in a patient without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report. An epithelial corneal scraping from a woman with chronic bilateral keratoconjunctivitis was evaluated by Giemsa stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Giemsa stain of an epithelial corneal scraping disclosed intracellular and extracellular spores characteristic of microsporidia. An HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was negative. The signs and symptoms of the bilateral keratoconjunctivitis resolved after treatment with albendazole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microsporidia may cause a chronic epithelial keratoconjunctivitis in the absence of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco 94122-0944, USA.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Silverstein
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cevallos
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000469:parasitology*; D015822:Eye Infections, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D016816:Microsporida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole