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Case Reports
. 2015 Jun 18;372(25):2423-7.
doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1500306. Epub 2015 May 7.

Persistence of Ebola Virus in Ocular Fluid during Convalescence

Jay B Varkey  1 , Jessica G Shantha, Ian Crozier, Colleen S Kraft, G Marshall Lyon, Aneesh K Mehta, Gokul Kumar, Justine R Smith, Markus H Kainulainen, Shannon Whitmer, Ute Ströher, Timothy M Uyeki, Bruce S Ribner, Steven Yeh
Affiliations
Case Reports

Persistence of Ebola Virus in Ocular Fluid during Convalescence

Jay B Varkey et al. N Engl J Med. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Among the survivors of Ebola virus disease (EVD), complications that include uveitis can develop during convalescence, although the incidence and pathogenesis of EVD-associated uveitis are unknown. We describe a patient who recovered from EVD and was subsequently found to have severe unilateral uveitis during convalescence. Viable Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) was detected in aqueous humor 14 weeks after the onset of EVD and 9 weeks after the clearance of viremia.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Montage Fundus Photographs 10 Weeks after the Onset of Ebola Virus Disease
Multiple peripheral chorioretinal scars with hypopigmented haloes are visible in the right eye (Panel A) and left eye (Panel B) (white arrows). A small intraretinal hemorrhage (black arrow) is adjacent to a chorioretinal scar in the left eye.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Slit-Lamp Photograph of the Left Eye 14 Weeks after the Onset of Ebola Virus Disease
Mild corneal edema, rare keratic precipitates (arrows), and inflammatory cells and protein in the anterior chamber are consistent with acute anterior uveitis.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Fundus Photograph of the Left Eye 14 Weeks after the Onset of Ebola Virus Disease
Severe vitritis is indicated by the obscuration of the optic nerve and blood vessels.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Eye Bank Association of America Medical Standards Regarding Ebola Policy.
    DeMatteo J. DeMatteo J. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015 Nov;133(11):1364. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2015.3127. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015. PMID: 26356730 No abstract available.
  • Ebola and the Ophthalmologist.
    Van Gelder RN, Margolis TP. Van Gelder RN, et al. Ophthalmology. 2015 Nov;122(11):2152-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.08.027. Ophthalmology. 2015. PMID: 26498076 No abstract available.
  • Persistent Ebola Virus in the Eye.
    Yeh S, Varkey JB, Crozier I. Yeh S, et al. N Engl J Med. 2015 Nov 12;373(20):1982-3. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1510459. N Engl J Med. 2015. PMID: 26559587 No abstract available.
  • Persistent Ebola Virus in the Eye.
    Kelly JD, Richardson ET, Barry M. Kelly JD, et al. N Engl J Med. 2015 Nov 12;373(20):1981-2. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1510459. N Engl J Med. 2015. PMID: 26559588 No abstract available.
  • Persistent Ebola Virus in the Eye.
    Epstein CL, Christopher GW. Epstein CL, et al. N Engl J Med. 2015 Nov 12;373(20):1982. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1510459. N Engl J Med. 2015. PMID: 26559589 No abstract available.

References

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    1. Sierra Leone: helping the Ebola survivors turn the page. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. ( http://www.who.int/features/2014/post-ebola-syndrome/en).
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