Rapid detection of Acanthamoeba cysts in frozen sections of corneal scrapings with Fungiflora Y.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To evaluate the usefulness of serial frozen sections of corneal scrapings stained with Fungiflora Y (FFY) to diagnose Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). METHODS: Eight patients with suspected AK were studied. Serial frozen sections were made from part of the corneal epithelial scrapings and stained with FFY. The remaining corneal epithelial scrapings were submitted for laboratory culture. RESULTS: The FFY stained frozen sections were completed within an hour, and Acanthamoeba cysts were detected under a fluorescence microscope in all eight patients. The same sections were examined with a light microscope, and Acanthamoeba cysts were confirmed to be present from their morphological characteristics. Five of the eight patients had positive laboratory cultures for Acanthamoeba. CONCLUSION: FFY staining of frozen sections of corneal scrapings is a rapid and reliable technique which can be used to make an early diagnosis of AK.