Isolation of a vesicular virus belonging to the family rhabdoviridae from the aqueous humor of a patient with bilateral corneal endotheliitis.
OBJECTIVE
To report bilateral corneal endotheliitis caused by a vesicular virus (family Rhabdoviridae).


METHODS
Case report of a 49-year-old man with a complaint of sudden onset of decreased vision in both eyes had diffuse corneal stromal edema with extensive folds in Descemet's membrane and was diagnosed as having bilateral viral endotheliitis. Virologic investigations were performed using aqueous humor from the right eye.


RESULTS
An ether- and chloroform-sensitive cytopathic agent was isolated in Vero and BHK-21 cell lines from the aqueous humor. It was identified as a vesicular virus belonging to the family Rhabdoviridae by electron microscopy. Neutralizing antibody was demonstrated at a titer greater than 1 in 4,096 dilutions in the convalescent serum. Neurologic complications included loss of hearing and postinfectious polyradiculopathy affecting both lower limbs. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/120 OD and 20/20 OS. Six months later, he developed glaucoma in the right eye. Trabeculectomy with intraoperative application of 5-fluorouracil was performed.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of bilateral endotheliitis caused by a vesicular virus and confirmed by virus isolation from the aqueous humor of the affected eye.
Madhavan
Hajib N
HN
Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.
Goldsmith
Cynthia S
CS
Rao
Srinivas K
SK
Fogla
Rajesh
R
Malathi
Jambulingam
J
Priya
Kannian
K
D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000821:virology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018116:Vesiculovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014776:Virus Cultivation; D014792:Visual Acuity