Species in genus: E. cuniculi, E. hellem
Risk factors:
(1) seropositive for HIV with low CD4 count (AIDS)
(2) exposure to tropical environment
(3) exposure to domestic animals
(4) exposure to urine from infected animals
Clinical features - chronic keratoconjunctivitis with:
(1) tearing
(2) photophobia
(3) foreign body sensation
(4) conjunctival hyperemia
(5) follicular hypertrophy
(6) decreased visual acuity
(7) punctate corneal erosions without perforation
(8) resistance to standard therapies
Laboratory findings:
(1) microsporidia in corneal scrapings or biopsy, typically intracellular within phagosomes and polarizable
(2) colonization of the upper respiratory tract
(3) characteristic appearance on electron microscopy, with 5 to 7 “coils”
(4) demonstrated in fluorescent microscopy with calcofluor white or acridine orange
(5) can be stained using specific antibodies
(6) growth in tissue culture (HeLa or canine kidney cells)
