Post

New research · Ophthalmology
Cureus · 2d
Case reportCureus · 2026

Bilateral Encephalitozoon hellem Keratoconjunctivitis With Microsporidial Spores in Parrot Feces.

Xu Wang, Chao Wang, Jing Gao, Li Li
Read paper
OphthalmologyCase report

Metagenomic sequencing found E. hellem DNA dominating a corneal infection sample

Bilateral Encephalitozoon hellem Keratoconjunctivitis With Microsporidial Spores in Parrot Feces.

Xu Wang … Li Li
Cureus · 2026
Methods

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of the same specimen detected 9,684 reads assigned to E. hellem , with a relative abundance of approximately 98% and genome coverage of 63%, supporting the diagnosis.

Results
98%
these DNA fragments made up nearly all germs found in the sample
More results

We describe bilateral Encephalitozoon hellem keratoconjunctivitis in a 39-year-old immunocompetent woman with two years of daily close contact with a pet parrot.

Slit-lamp examination showed bilateral conjunctival inflammation and diffuse superficial punctate corneal infiltrates.

More results

Giemsa staining of a left-eye corneal scraping demonstrated oval spore-like structures, while bacterial and fungal cultures were negative.

“
Conclusion

It also illustrates that microscopic findings in avian feces alone cannot establish zoonotic transmission.

Read paper
0 comments

No comments yet. Be the first.

Related papers

LatestFoundational
Cross-sectional
44.1%
had too much homocysteine in the blood, a far larger share than in dry AMD or healthy eyes
Cohort Study
92.3%
most laser-treated eyes had a favorable eye-structure outcome
Cohort Study
56%
lost three or more lines on the eye-chart vision test
Cohort Study
50%
older patients were more likely to lose three or more lines of vision
Study
81%
trials where mask air leaks were detected blowing toward the eyes
Cohort Study
13.5%
Central retinal artery peak blood-flow speed was 13.5% lower in diabetic patients.
Study
379 +/- 156 microm
lower thickness in the central retina, checked with an eye scan
Case Report
9 of 10 eyes
eyes had better measured vision after treatment