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. 2024 Jul 2;16(4):468-470.
doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihad079.

Heterogenous pathogen profile associated with acute conjunctivitis in Nepal

Meenu Chaudhary  1 , Sanjeeta Sitaula  1 , Kevin Ruder  2 , Cindi Chen  2 , Lina Zhong  2 , Yu Heng Lu  2 , Thomas Abraham  2 , Danny Yu  2 , Armin Hinterwirth  2 , Thomas M Lietman  2   3 , Thuy Doan  2   3 , Gerami D Seitzman  2   3 ; SCORPIO Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Heterogenous pathogen profile associated with acute conjunctivitis in Nepal

Meenu Chaudhary et al. Int Health. .

Abstract

Background: Infectious conjunctivitis is common in Nepal.

Materials and methods: This prospective study recruited 60 patients with presumed acute infectious conjunctivitis from the B.P. Koirala Lions Center for Ophthalmic Studies in Kathmandu, Nepal. Swabs from the conjunctiva and anterior nares were processed for metagenomic RNA deep sequencing (RNA-seq).

Results: Pathogens were identified in 55% of cases. RNA viruses were the most common pathogen class identified. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was the most common RNA virus identified.

Conclusions: Acute infectious conjunctivitis varies by location. Contrary to expectations, RNA viruses predominated. Repeat surveillance may be useful and RNA-seq allows for detection of the unexpected pathogen including RNA viruses.

Keywords: RNA deep-sequencing; SCORPIO; infectious conjunctivitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
(A) Demographics and clinical signs and symptoms of study participants. (B) Pathogen class identified by RNA-seq. (C) Specific pathogens identified in conjunctiva and nasal swabs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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