First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection case

Abstract Filamentous fungi are among the emerging causes of infections, although corneal infections caused by these fungi are rare, they can lead to severe clinical outcomes. In this report, we present the first documented case of keratitis caused by Stemphylium lycopersici, a filamentous hemipteran...

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Main Authors: Zixiang Zhao, Siyu Leng, Yuhao Zou, Lijuan Xiang, Yunke Li, Yi Liu, Chongyang Wang, Man Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00505-6
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author Zixiang Zhao
Siyu Leng
Yuhao Zou
Lijuan Xiang
Yunke Li
Yi Liu
Chongyang Wang
Man Yu
author_facet Zixiang Zhao
Siyu Leng
Yuhao Zou
Lijuan Xiang
Yunke Li
Yi Liu
Chongyang Wang
Man Yu
author_sort Zixiang Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Filamentous fungi are among the emerging causes of infections, although corneal infections caused by these fungi are rare, they can lead to severe clinical outcomes. In this report, we present the first documented case of keratitis caused by Stemphylium lycopersici, a filamentous hemipteran fungus of the Pleosporaceae family. A 66-year-old man presented conjunctival redness, irritation, and visual deterioration in his left eye, following a stone chip injury that occurred five months earlier. Despite multiple treatments, the causative pathogen remained unidentified, leading to worsening symptoms and significant vision loss. This deterioration led the patient to seek care at our hospital. An in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) examination suggested a fungal infection. Consequently, antifungal medications were administered, but the condition did not improve. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) examination of corneal scrapings revealed a mixed infection with S. lycopersici and human alphaherpesvirus 1. This definitive diagnosis facilitated the implementation of targeted therapy, leading to progressive symptomatic improvement. Early and rapid pathogen identification using mNGS analysis of corneal scrapings enables accurate management of infectious keratitis, contributing to visual recovery and reducing the risk of resistance to corneal pathogenic microbes.
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spelling doaj-art-afceefafbad74c36a64ee81576e54d932025-08-20T03:16:32ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection1869-57602025-05-011511710.1186/s12348-025-00505-6First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection caseZixiang Zhao0Siyu Leng1Yuhao Zou2Lijuan Xiang3Yunke Li4Yi Liu5Chongyang Wang6Man Yu7Department of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chengdu BOE HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Deyang People’s HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, The First People’s Hospital of YibinDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract Filamentous fungi are among the emerging causes of infections, although corneal infections caused by these fungi are rare, they can lead to severe clinical outcomes. In this report, we present the first documented case of keratitis caused by Stemphylium lycopersici, a filamentous hemipteran fungus of the Pleosporaceae family. A 66-year-old man presented conjunctival redness, irritation, and visual deterioration in his left eye, following a stone chip injury that occurred five months earlier. Despite multiple treatments, the causative pathogen remained unidentified, leading to worsening symptoms and significant vision loss. This deterioration led the patient to seek care at our hospital. An in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) examination suggested a fungal infection. Consequently, antifungal medications were administered, but the condition did not improve. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) examination of corneal scrapings revealed a mixed infection with S. lycopersici and human alphaherpesvirus 1. This definitive diagnosis facilitated the implementation of targeted therapy, leading to progressive symptomatic improvement. Early and rapid pathogen identification using mNGS analysis of corneal scrapings enables accurate management of infectious keratitis, contributing to visual recovery and reducing the risk of resistance to corneal pathogenic microbes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00505-6Fungal keratitisStemphylium lycopersiciMixed infectionNew pathogenic speciesAntibiotic resistance
spellingShingle Zixiang Zhao
Siyu Leng
Yuhao Zou
Lijuan Xiang
Yunke Li
Yi Liu
Chongyang Wang
Man Yu
First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection case
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
Fungal keratitis
Stemphylium lycopersici
Mixed infection
New pathogenic species
Antibiotic resistance
title First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection case
title_full First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection case
title_fullStr First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection case
title_full_unstemmed First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection case
title_short First report of Stemphylium lycopersici keratitis, a complex corneal infection case
title_sort first report of stemphylium lycopersici keratitis a complex corneal infection case
topic Fungal keratitis
Stemphylium lycopersici
Mixed infection
New pathogenic species
Antibiotic resistance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00505-6
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