Macular serpiginous chorioretinitis associated with Francisella tularensis: A case report
PURPOSE: To report a rare case of bilateral macular serpiginous chorioretinitis associated with Francisella tularensis infection following rabbit exposure. METHODS: Observational case report with multimodal retinal imaging and extensive systemic and serologic evaluation. RESULTS: The patient presented with rapidly progressive bilateral central visual loss and placoid macular lesions. Serologic testing confirmed Francisella tularensis infection. Treatment with doxycycline led to regression of inflammatory changes, with residual outer retinal atrophy. CONCLUSION: This case highlights tularemia as a rare infectious trigger of macular serpiginous chorioretinitis and underscores the importance of considering zoonotic infections in atypical or rapidly progressive chorioretinal inflammatory disease.
Authors
- Jeanne Martine Gunzinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9005-347X)
- Simona Simmen
- Mayss Al‐Sheikh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3364-2232)
- Eva Manuela Friedl
- Daniel Barthelmes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5431-4991)
- Barbara Hasse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7196-3734)
- Stefan Langenegger
- Sandrine Zweifel
Institutions
- University Hospital of Zurich (CH)
- Sight and Life (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Retinal Cases & Brief Reports
- Published
- 2026-08-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1097/icb.0000000000001977
- Primary Topic
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00