|
|
PHOTO ESSAY |
|
Year : 2021 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 2 | Page : 186-187 |
|
A rare case of subconjunctival Onchocerca volvulus
Siddharth Kumar1, Antarlin Ghosal1, Ramamani Dalai1, Dharitri Mohapatra2, Soumya Nayak2
1 Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India 2 Department of Microbiology, Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India
Date of Submission | 15-Jul-2020 |
Date of Acceptance | 27-Oct-2020 |
Date of Web Publication | 01-Apr-2021 |
Correspondence Address: Dr. Siddharth Kumar Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College, Cuttack - 753 012, Odisha India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2311_20
Keywords: Onchocerciasis in India, subconjunctival worm, Subconjunctival Onchocerciasis
How to cite this article: Kumar S, Ghosal A, Dalai R, Mohapatra D, Nayak S. A rare case of subconjunctival Onchocerca volvulus. Indian J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2021;1:186-7 |
How to cite this URL: Kumar S, Ghosal A, Dalai R, Mohapatra D, Nayak S. A rare case of subconjunctival Onchocerca volvulus. Indian J Ophthalmol Case Rep [serial online] 2021 [cited 2021 Apr 14];1:186-7. Available from: https://www.ijoreports.in/text.asp?2021/1/2/186/312368 |
Case Report | |  |
A 50-year-old female patient from Biridi, Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, India came with complaints of redness, itching, and watering of the left eye for 2 days. On examination, it was discovered that the symptoms were due to a live subconjunctival worm [[Figure 1]a, [Figure 1]b and Video clip 1]. On literature review, we found that similar presentations have been reported with Brugia malayi, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Dirofilaria repens from different parts of the country, therefore keeping in mind the periodicity of different filarial species blood samples were collected at 8 am, 4 pm and 10 pm.[1],[2] Microfilariae with features suggestive of Onchocerca volvulus were identified in all the three samples [Figure 2]. Skin snip biopsy was not done since microfilariae were identified in the blood smear. The worm was extracted and was sent for microbiological examination [Video clip 2]. It was identified as a filarial worm with well-marked annular and oblique striations on the cuticle, blunt at both ends with tapering and curved posterior end [Figure 3]a, [Figure 3]b, [Figure 3]c, [Figure 3]d. The features of the worm were consistent with that of Onchocerca volvulus. The sample started disintegrating before molecular confirmation could be done. The patient was treated with Tablet Ivermectin and Doxycycline 100 and was asymptomatic on follow-up. | Figure 1: Congestion and chemosis on diffuse illumination (a) and slit-lamp microphotograph showing subconjunctival worm (white arrow) (×16) (b)
Click here to view |
 | Figure 2: Microphotograph showing microfilaria in the peripheral blood smear (×40)
Click here to view |
 | Figure 3: Microphotograph of the worm (×40) showing annular and oblique cuticular striations (a), blunt anterior end (b), blunt and tapering posterior end, (c) and curved posterior end of the worm (d)
Click here to view |
Discussion | |  |
Onchocerciasis is caused by Onchocerca volvulus, which is transmitted by blackfly Simulium. In 2017, there were 20.9 million prevalent Onchocerca volvulus infections worldwide mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Yemen. Also, only two cases of Onchocerciasis have been reported from India till now.[3],[4] Onchocerciasis mostly affects eyes and the skin. In the eyes, it commonly affects the cornea and has also known to cause Iridocyclitis, chorioretinitis, and optic neuropathy.
The message from this report is that India despite being a nonendemic country, the possibility Onchocerciasis should not be ruled out without proper evaluation.
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank Prof. Subhabrata Parida, Head of the department, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Dr Nirupama Chayani, Head of the Department Microbiology of Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack and for their constant support and guidance.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
References | |  |
1. | Rao NG, Mahapatra SK, Pattnayak S, Pattnaik K. Intravitreal live adult Brugian filariasis. Indian J Ophthalmol 2008;56:76-8.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
2. | Rautaraya B, Tiwari S, Mahapatra A, Nanda A. Ocular filariasis. Trop Parasitol 2011;1:116-8.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
3. | Barua P, Sharma A, Hazarika NK, Barua N, Bhuyan S, Alam ST. A rare case of ocular onchocerciasis in India. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2011;42:1359-64. |
4. | Shivalingaiah PR, Veerabhadraiah P, Kumar P, Mayappa NT, Jeyasekar MR. Onchocerciasis in the orbital region: An unexpected guest from tropics. Int J Head Neck Surg 2018;9:137-9. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]
|