First report of presumed parasitic keratitis in Indians from the Brazilian Amazon.
OBJECTIVE
To describe corneal disorders in patients with systemic parasitic disease.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study consisted of ophthalmologic examinations, peripheral blood tests and skin biopsies in 496 subjects (395 Indians and 101 non-indians) from the upper Negro River, Brazilian Amazon.


RESULTS
Mansonella ozzardi was detected in the blood of 140 (28.23%) subjects. Seventy-six (55.07%) of them also presented multiple nummular opaque superficial lesions in the cornea. None of the examined patients presented onchocercal-related skin lesions or positive skin biopsies for filaria.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant association between mansonelliasis and keratitis.
Garrido
C
C
Ophthalmology Department of Sao Paulo Federal University, Paulista School of Medicine, Brazil.
Campos
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015822:Eye Infections, Parasitic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007199:Indians, South American; D007634:Keratitis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008366:Mansonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008368:Mansonelliasis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population