Intraocular microsporidiosis due to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a patient with idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia.
Encephalitozoon cuniculi was documented to cause disseminated microsporidial infection including an iris tumor and endophthalmitis in an adolescent with idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia. The diagnosis was established by microscopic, serologic and molecular methods. E. cuniculi (rabbit strain) was identified from the iris tumor, as well as from urine, conjunctival, corneal, and nasal swabs. Treatment with oral albendazole led to rapid improvement. This case raises the possibility of disseminated microsporidial infection in the context of idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia and possibly advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and above all the possibility of intraocular infection with E. cuniculi in humans.
Kodjikian
Laurent
L
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. kodjikian.laurent@wanadoo.fr
Garweg
Justus G
JG
Nguyen
Mai
M
Schaffner
Thomas
T
Deplazese
Peter
P
Zimmerli
Stefan
S
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000469:parasitology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D018344:T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive / Q000150:complications*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology*