Detection of measles virus genomic RNA in tear samples from a patient with measles keratitis.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of measles keratitis, in which measles virus genomic RNA was detected in tear samples.


METHODS
Samples of tears and pharyngeal mucus were obtained from a 19-year-old man with active systemic measles on day 7 after illness onset. These specimens were then subjected to reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using measles-specific primers.


RESULTS
One week after systemic measles outbreak, the patient presented with a chief complaint of irritation in both eyes. Slit-lamp examination revealed bilateral superficial punctate keratopathy in the central cornea with small diffuse subepithelial infiltrations, and RT-PCR detected measles virus genomic RNA in tears and pharyngeal mucus. The patient was treated with topical 0.1% fluorometholone and 0.5% levofloxacin three times a day for 1 week, and the keratopathy resolved without sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
This report demonstrates for the first time the presence of measles virus genomic RNA in the tears of a patient with measles keratitis. It also highlights the utility of RT-PCR for rapid detection of measles RNA in tear or mucus samples. Furthermore, the presence of virus in bodily fluids and secretions signifies the potential contagiousness of this type of keratopathy.
Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan.
Kazuo
K
Shinoda
Akira
A
Kobayashi
Tomomi
T
Higashide
Yutaka
Y
Shirao
Mayumi
M
Sakurai
Yukihiro
Y
Shirota
Makiko
M
Kagaya
D000328:Adult; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013666:Tears / Q000821:virology*
D012367:RNA, Viral