@article {1271, title = {Apollo Rising: Acute Conjunctivitis Outbreak in India, 2022}, journal = {Cornea Open}, year = {2023}, month = {08/2023}, abstract = {

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify pathogens associated with the 2022 conjunctivitis outbreak in Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in November 2022. Patients with presumed acute infectious conjunctivitis presenting to the Aravind Eye Clinic in Madurai, India, were eligible. Anterior nares and conjunctival samples from participants were obtained and processed for metagenomic RNA deep sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: Samples from 29 patients were sequenced. A pathogen was identified in 28/29 (97\%) patients. Coxsackie virus A24v, a highly infectious RNA virus, was the predominant pathogen and detected in 23/29 patients. Human adenovirus D (HAdV-D), a DNA virus commonly associated with conjunctivitis outbreaks, was detected in the remaining patients (5/29). Hemorrhagic conjunctiva was documented in both HAdV-D and Coxsackie virus A24v affected patients but was not the predominant clinical presentation. Phylogenetic analysis of Coxsackie virus A24v revealed a recent divergence from the 2015 outbreak. Conclusions: Coxsackie virus A24v and HAdV-D were cocirculating during the 2022 conjunctivitis outbreak in Tamil Nadu, India. Clinical findings were similar between patients with HAdV-D and Coxsackie virus A24v{\textendash}associated conjunctivitis. As high-throughput sequencing technologies become more readily available and cost-effective, unbiased pathogen surveillance may prove useful for outbreak surveillance and control.

}, issn = {2833-6992}, author = {Prajna, Namperumalsamy Venkatesh and Prajna, Lalitha and Teja, Vishnu and Gunasekaran, Ramesh and Ruder, Kevin and Zhong, Lina and Yu, Danny and Liu, David and Abraham, Thomas and Ao, Wendy and Deiner, Michael and Hinterwirth, Armin and Seitzman, Gerami D. and Doan, Thuy and Lietman, Thomas M. and on behalf of the, Scorpio Study Group} } @article {1191, title = {Case Series: Unbiased Deep Sequencing Analysis of Acute Infectious Conjunctivitis in an Ambulatory Eye Center in Berkeley, California.}, journal = {Optom Vis Sci}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Mar 07}, abstract = {

SIGNIFICANCE: Acute infectious conjunctivitis poses significant challenges to eye care providers. It can be highly transmissible and as etiology is often presumed, correct treatment and management can be difficult. This study utilizes unbiased deep sequencing to identify causative pathogens of infectious conjunctivitis, potentially allowing for improved approaches to diagnosis and management.

PURPOSES: To identified associated pathogens of acute infectious conjunctivitis in a single ambulatory eye care center.Case ReportsThis study included patients who presented to the University of California Berkeley eye center with signs and symptoms suggestive of infectious conjunctivitis. From December 2021 to July 2021, samples were collected from 7 subjects (ages ranging from 18 to 38 years old). Deep sequencing identified associated pathogens in 5 out of 7 samples, including human adenovirus D (HAdV), Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E).

CONCLUSIONS: Unbiased deep sequencing identified some unexpected pathogens in subjects with acute infectious conjunctivitis. HAdV was recovered from only one patient in this series. While all samples were obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic, only one case of HCoV-229E and no SARS-CoV-2was identified.

}, issn = {1538-9235}, doi = {10.1097/OPX.0000000000002010}, author = {Kanai, Kuniyoshi and Whiteside, Meredith and Wong, Michel and La, Tammy and Nassiri, Maryam and Lee, Sam and Yeung, Sze Kei and Coulter, Adrienne and Ruder, Kevin and Chen, Cindi and Liu, David and Abraham, Thomas and Hinterwirth, Armin and Lietmanb, Thomas M and Doan, Thuy and Seitzman, Gerami D} } @article {1166, title = {Viruses Associated with Acute Conjunctivitis in Vanuatu.}, journal = {Am J Trop Med Hyg}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Jan 16}, abstract = {

The first manifestation of a viral infection may be conjunctivitis. There are limited data on the etiology of viral conjunctivitis in Vanuatu, a country in the South Pacific Ocean. Patients presenting to one of two Vanuatu health centers with presumed infectious conjunctivitis were eligible if symptom onset was within 14 days of screening. Conjunctival and anterior nasal swabs were obtained and subjected to unbiased RNA deep sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify DNA and RNA viruses. For samples collected from May to November 2021, RNA-seq identified a viral etiology in 12/48 patients. Human adenovirus species were the most common viruses (58\%) detected, followed by human herpes viruses (cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus, and human herpes 7 virus). Rhinovirus C, Epstein-Barr virus, and bocavirus were also detected. In summary, the etiology for viral conjunctivitis in Vanuatu appears broad. Unbiased testing may be useful for disease surveillance.

}, issn = {1476-1645}, doi = {10.4269/ajtmh.22-0600}, author = {Johnson, Kasso and Taleo, Fasihah and Willie, Kalbule and Amel, Edwin and Nanu, Madopule and Alguet, Marie and Wass, Jose and Rymill, Prudence and Solomon, Anthony and Ruder, Kevin and Chen, Cindi and Zhong, Lina and Hinterwirth, Armin and Liu, David and Abraham, Thomas and Seitzman, Gerami and Lietman, Thomas and Doan, Thuy} }