Microsporidial Keratoconjunctivitis Caused by <i>Vittaforma corneae</i>, Sea of Galilee, Israel, 2022–2024
We describe a multiannual outbreak of keratoconjunctivitis caused by the microsporidium Vittaforma corneae in the Sea of Galilee, Israel. Patients had multifocal punctate corneal infiltrates and reduced visual acuity, confirmed by locally-developed pathogen-specific real-time PCR. Topical chlorhexidine, rather than traditional antimicrobial drugs, proved an effective and safe primary treatment.
Authors
- Irit Lubitz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4099-5156)
- Fidaa El Zhalka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8491-5085)
- Asaf Friehmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6325-7175)
- Sharon Amit (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0867-1824)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Published
- 2025-07-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3108.241941
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.05