Mycotic keratitis in Nigeria: A study of 21 cases

Abstract

A clinical and mycological study of 21 cases of mycotic keratitis, a clinical entity not yet reported from Nigeria or West Africa, showed that Fusarium solani was the predominant aetiological agent. It was isolated from I2 cases. Four of the remaining nine cases were caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, one by A. flavus, two by Penicillium citrinum, and one each by P. expansum and Penicillium sp. All the I2 isolates of F. solani grew well at 37°C and survived at 40°C. Two cases, one due to F. solani and the other to A. fumigatus, were accompanied by panophthalmitis. We thank Mr A. J. Brooks, head of the Medical Illustration Unit, for the clinical photographs and Dr A. V. Suseelan, Department of Morbid Anatomy, for the histological preparations. We also thank the University Senate Research Grant Committee for financial support for the study and Dr C. Booth, of CMI Kew, Surrey, for identifying some of our isolates of F. solani.