Characterization of Humicola pulvericola First Isolated from a Patient with Keratitis Clinical Case.

ABSTRACT

Infection caused by the Humicola sp is extremely rare. We report the first case of fungal keratitis caused by Humicola pulvericola (H. pulvericola) in a 63-year-old man with a history of exposed to hot oil two weeks ago who developed keratitis. Direct examination of confocal microscopy and corneal scrapings showed fungal hyphae and isolates were identified by morphology and by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. The in vitro antifungal susceptibilities of the case strain were tested for five antifungal agents. The results showed that the infectious agent was resistant towards fluconazole, caspofungin and amphotericin B; itraconazole and voriconazole were highly effective against H. pulvericola. He was diagnosed with H. pulvericola keratitis and treated with oral itraconazole and natamycin eyedrops. After one month of treatment, the lesion gradually improved, with the best-corrected visual acuity improving to 0.8.