Zoonotic intravitreal Onchocerca in Hungary

Objective To report the case of a 65-year-old male patient from western Hungary who presented with rapidly progressive peripheral visual field (VF) loss and the sensation of an actively moving object in his central VF. Design Interventional case report. Method/intervention A live nematode was removed from the anterior vitreous cavity by pars plana vitrectomy. Results The worm was successfully removed surgically, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. The nematode was identified as an immature filaria, most likely a member of the genus Onchocerca. Conclusions Only 3 previous reports exist of human infection of the eye caused by zoonotic Onchocerca, 2 involving the subconjunctiva and 1 the cornea. Although rare, zoonotic onchocercal infection of the eye must be considered a differential diagnostic entity even in temperate climates.