Human Endophthalmitis Caused By Pseudorabies Virus Infection, China, 2017

Abstract

We report human endophthalmitis caused by pseudorabies virus infection after exposure to sewage on a hog farm in China. High-throughput sequencing and real-time PCR of vitreous humor showed pseudorabies virus sequences. This case showed that pseudorabies virus might infect humans after direct contact with contaminants.

Keywords: Alphaherpesvirinae; China; Herpesviridae; Human endophthalmitis; Jiangxi Province; Suid herpesvirus 1; endophthalmitis; high-throughput nucleotide sequencing; hog farm; pseudorabies; swineherder; viruses.

Figure 1

Ocular examination conducted 2 months after eye surgery in patient with human endophthalmitis caused by pseudorabies virus, China, 2017. A) Fundus photography of both eyes showing retinal necrosis and occlusive vasculitis and postoperative change after pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection in the right eye. B) Optical coherence tomography of the patient’s right eye showed postoperative change after pars plana vitrectomy. 2, scan depth (2 mm); I, inferior, L, left eye; N, nasal side; S, superior; T, temporal side.

Figure 2

Results of gene sequencing, serologic testing, and phylogenetic analysis of pseudorabies virus from patient with human endophthalmitis, China, 2017. A) Sequencing of Suid herpesvirus 1 (pseudorabies virus) yielded a total coverage of 84%. B) Evolutionary relationships of taxa. Phylogenetic analysis disclosed a close connection between the isolate from the patient (boldface) and 4 other Suid herpesvirus 1 strains. Scale bar indicates amino acid substitutions per site.