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Case Reports
. 2020 Jan 16:27:44-47.
doi: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2020.01.004. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Microsporidial stromal keratitis in a cat

Kelly A Caruso  1 , Seth Koch  2 , Benjamin D Reynolds  1 , Kathy Szabo  3 , Mark Mense  3 , Ann Cali  4 , Cameron J Whittaker  1 , Jeffrey Smith  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Microsporidial stromal keratitis in a cat

Kelly A Caruso et al. Med Mycol Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 12 year-old female spayed felid presented after a 35 day history of right eye pain. On examination, a sub-epithelial opacity was identified in the cornea. A lamellar keratectomy was performed and histopathological analysis revealed low numbers of 2x4um, Gram, Hamatoxylin-eosin and Gomori methanamine-silver positive spores. Transmission electron microscopy found ultrastructural findings consistent with the phylum Microspora. To the author's knowledge, this is only the second case of microsporidial stromal keratitis reported in a felid.

Keywords: Feline; Fungal; Keratitis; Microsporidial; Veterinary.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no personal or financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pre-operative photograph of the corneal stromal opacity at day 0.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Photograph of the patient's cornea post-operatively at day 120.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Light microscopy photomicrograph of Gomori methenamine-silver (GMS) stained cornea showing spores within the areas of corneal inflammation.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of a phagocytic cell containing multiple spores at different stages in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of a spore section containing diplokaryotic nuclei with sections of approximately 11 polar filament coils; features consistent with the family Nosematidae and genus Nosema.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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