DNA chip-assisted diagnosis of a previously unknown etiology of intermediate uveitis – Toxoplasma gondii.
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Date
2010-11
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Abstract
We report the use of DNA chip technology in the identification of Toxoplasma gondii as the etiological agent in two patients with recurrent intermediate uveitis (IU). Both patients had recurrent episodes of vitritis (with no focal retinochoroidal lesion) over varying time intervals and were diagnosed to have IU. The tuberculin test was negative in both. Blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum angiotensin convertase enzyme levels were normal. In both cases, the vitreous fluid tested positive for the T. gondii DNA sequence by using a uveitis DNA chip (XCyton Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, India). It contained complimentary sequences to “signature genes” of T. gondii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. chelonae, and M. fortuitum. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected elevated serum antitoxoplasma IgG levels in both. They responded to the antitoxoplasma therapy with oral co-trimoxazole (and additional intravitreal clindamycin in patient 1), with no recurrence during follow-ups of 6 and 8 months, respectively.
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Keywords
Intermediate uveitis, Toxoplasma gondii, polymerase chain reaction
Citation
Basu Soumyava, Sharma Savitri, Kar Sarita, Das Taraprasad. DNA chip-assisted diagnosis of a previously unknown etiology of intermediate uveitis – Toxoplasma gondii. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2010 Nov; 58(6): 535-537.