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Trematodes are recognized as a group of emerging parasites in tropical countries. We identified a trematode as a cause of ocular granulomas that developed in children who bathed in ponds or rivers in South India. DNA was isolated from patients' surgically excised granulomas and from the trematode cercariae (larvae) released by the snail Melanoides tuberculata in water in which the children bathed. Real-time and conventional PCRs were performed that targeted ribosomal DNA regions spanning the internal transcribed spacer 2 and 28S sequences of this trematode. The PCR-amplified products were subjected to bidirectional sequencing. Analysis of sequences for the granuloma samples and the trematode cercariae showed maximum sequence similarity with Procerovum varium (family Heterophyidae). Our results confirmed the etiology of the ocular infection, implicating snail vectors as environmental risk factors for ocular parasitosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editors discuss studies on intraocular tuberculosis (IOTB).

The article discusses visual complications resulting from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Health data shows that the main cause of blindness associated with HIV infection is cytomegalovirus retinitis. Other complications resulting from HIV infection and AIDS include Kaposi sarcoma, molluscum contagiosum and conjunctival microvasculopathy. Recommendations to prevent HIV- and AIDS- induced blindness are presented.

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of new criteria for grading the site and activity of intraocular inflammation. Design: Cross-sectional agreement study. Methods: Grading of 202 eyes of 101 patients with uveitis was conducted by pairs of uveitis subspecialists at three uveitis subspecialty clinics. Agreement in grading location of inflammation, anterior chamber (AC) cells, AC flare, vitreous cells (present or absent), and vitreous haze was calculated. Results: Proposed criteria for grading the location of intraocular inflammation had moderate reproducibility (κ range, 0.49 to 0.61). Reproducibility improved (κ range, 0.61 to 0.73) when the newly proposed category of anterior and intermediate uveitis was excluded. The ranges of κ statistics for exact agreement on gradings of AC cells (range, 0.34 to 0.43) demonstrated low to moderate levels of agreement, and gradings of AC flare (range, 0.50 to 0.64), vitreous cells (range, 0.48 to 0.51), and vitreous haze (0.53) were in the moderate agreement range. However, agreement within 1 grade was outstanding for AC cells (κ range, 0.81 to 1.00) and vitreous haze (κ, 0.75). For AC flare, a distribution skewed toward low grades within 1 grade made κ statistics unstable. Conclusions: Proposed methods for grading inflammatory activity have moderate reproducibility for exact agreement in most instances. However, agreement within 1 grade is excellent for grading of AC cells and vitreous haze. The method for grading the site of intraocular inflammation also produces moderate levels of agreement, and in our hands was improved by excluding both anterior and intermediate uveitis. Improved methods for grading AC flare and vitreous cells are needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]