@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} } @article {156, title = {Metagenomic Deep Sequencing to Investigate for an Infectious Etiology of Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome.}, journal = {Cornea}, volume = {39}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 Oct}, pages = {1307-1310}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: Iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome is a group of rare ocular conditions that result from abnormal corneal endothelial cells, leading to secondary glaucoma, iris distortions, and corneal edema. The etiology of ICE is unknown, although it has been associated with viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus. In this study, we sought to identify an infectious etiology for ICE using advanced molecular techniques.

METHODS: Metagenomic RNA sequencing (MDS) is a high-throughput sequencing approach that can identify all pathogens in any clinical sample, including RNA viruses. Descemet membrane and aqueous fluid from patients with ICE syndrome were subjected to MDS testing.

RESULTS: Samples from 3 patients with ICE were analyzed. MDS was performed on the aqueous fluid of 3 patients and Descemet membrane and endothelial cell tissue from 1 patient. Viral pathogens were not identified in any of the samples.

CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to identify a viral etiology in the tissues of patients with the Chandler variant of ICE syndrome, although this study was limited by sample size.

}, issn = {1536-4798}, doi = {10.1097/ICO.0000000000002368}, author = {Sutra, Plern and Rose-Nussbaumer, Jennifer and Gonzales, John A and Wang, Kaidi and Hinterwirth, Armin and Seitzman, Gerami and Bloomer, Michele and Acharya, Nisha and Doan, Thuy} }