Thelazia callipaeda infection in a 5-month-old infant

Abstract

Background: Thelazia callipaeda is the main causative organism in thelaziasis, commonly infecting orbital cavities and associated tissues of carnivores. Thelazia callipaeda infection is rarely reported in humans, especially in infants.

Case presentation: A 5-month-old male infant presented with 2 weeks of redness and increased secretions in the left eye. On examination, the left eye revealed the presence of one creamy thread-like mobile worm in the conjunctival sac. During surgical exploration, a total of 11 worms were extracted from the left eye. The worms were morphologically identified as seven female and four male T. callipaeda. Ocular symptoms resolved rapidly after the removal of the worms, with no recurrence after the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion: We present here detailed clinical and morphological information pertaining to T. callipaeda infection, which is considered to be a probably neglected parasitic disease of the eye. This case illustrates the importance of including thelaziasis into the differential diagnosis of ocular surface diseases, especially in infant patients.

Keywords: Differential diagnosis; Infant; Thelazia callipaeda infection; Thelaziasis.