PCR for the diagnosis and species identification of microsporidia in patients with keratitis

Abstract

Corneal scrapings from 30 patients with microbial keratitis were subjected to microsporidial PCR. PCR was positive for microsporidia in ten of 30 patients. The species was identified as Vittaforma corneae by sequencing in all ten patients. The remaining 20 patients were negative for microsporidia and showed the growth of other organisms (Acanthamoeba, fungi or bacteria). © 2010 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2010 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.