Lab Med Online.  2020 Jul;10(3):247-249. 10.3343/lmo.2020.10.3.247.

First Case of Fungal Corneal Ulcer Caused by Pestalotiopsis mangiferae

• Roh S
• Suh M
• Lee HC
• Lee WK
• Kim YK

• KMID: 2504136
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/lmo.2020.10.3.247

Abstract

Pestalotiopsis species are filamentous fungi that are known plant pathogens commonly isolated in tropical and subtropical regions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of human infection caused by Pestalotiopsis mangiferae. An 80-year-old male farmer presented with ocular pain in the right eye. At initial presentation, slit-lamp examination showed a 3.0×2.5 mm-sized epithelial defect in the cornea of the right eye accompanied by corneal thinning. A KOH examination revealed spores, and consequently, treatment with voriconazole, ceftazidime, and moxifloxacin was initiated. One month later, a second KOH examination and fungal culture were performed. The results of the KOH examination indicated the presence of many hyphae, and fungus was isolated from the culture. Molecular identification revealed that the sequence had 100% similarity to P. mangiferae. The patient was treated with therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. During follow-up in the outpatient clinic, signs of infection were not observed.

Keyword

Pestalotiopsis; P. mangiferae; Corneal infection; Corneal ulcer; Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty; Voriconazole

Figure

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  Fig. 1 P. mangiferae cultured in a petri dish containing potato dextrose agar at 30°C for 7 days, displaying delicate, furry, white hyphae with aerial mycelia on the surface.

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  Fig. 2 Microscopic capture of five-celled conidia with three olive-brown median cells, hyaline terminal cells, and branched appendages arising from the apex of the apical cell (lactophenol cotton blue staining, 25°C for 7 days incubation).

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