title: The Value of Cytology Smears for Acanthamoeba Keratitis.
abstract: Purpose. Acanthamoeba keratitis remains a difficult diagnosis despite advances in genetic and imaging technologies. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the utility of cytology smears for diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Methods. This is a case study of the diagnostic course for a patient with suspected Acanthamoeba keratitis. Results. A 40-year-old male with poor contact lens hygiene presented with severe left eye pain. Slit lamp examination showed two peripheral ring infiltrates without an epithelial defect. The epithelium over both infiltrates was removed with a Kimura spatula. Half of the sample was smeared on a dry microscope slide and the other half was submitted for Acanthamoeba culture and PCR. Both culture and PCR were negative for Acanthamoeba, but hematoxylin and eosin stain of the smear revealed double-walled cysts. Conclusion. H&E staining of corneal cytology specimens is an efficient and readily available test for diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 1176 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209, USA; SUNY Eye Institute, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA; Research Service, Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System (VAWNYHS), Building 20, 3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA.
authors.forename: Sangita P
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6969-490X
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 1176 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 1176 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8930-9674
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Buffalo General Medical Center, Kaleida Health, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Buffalo General Medical Center, Kaleida Health, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA; Department of Pathology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 206 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 1176 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209, USA; SUNY Eye Institute, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA; Department of Pathology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 206 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA; Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; Research & Development Service, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affair Medical Center, 1500 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Fernandez