Spiroplasma species as a rare cause of congenital cataract and uveitis: a case series

Abstract: Background
To date, only four cases of ocular spiroplasma infection have been reported in the entire ophthalmic literature. We add two more cases to raise awareness of this sight-threatening congenital disease that manifests as cataract with ocular inflammation.

Case presentation
Both infants were referred for cataracts associated with ocular inflammation. Case 1, a 3-week-old neonate presented with unilateral cataract, ocular inflammation and elevated intraocular pressure. Case 2 was a 3-month-old infant with bilateral cataract and panuveitis. Lensectomies with or without vitrectomy and subsequent analyses of the specimens were performed. Transmission electron microscopy and multiplex polymerase chain reaction or 16 s rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction revealed spiroplasma species.

Conclusions
Spiroplasma as a very rare cause for congenital cataract might be underdiagnosed. We recommend performing polymerase chain reaction to probe for spiroplasma species in congenital cataracts with an inflammatory component

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: BMC ophthalmology. - 21 (2021) , 434, ISSN: 1471-2415

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2021
• Creator: Farassat, Navid ; Reich, Michael ; Serr, Annerose ; Küchlin, Sebastian ; Erwemi, Marwa ; Auw-Hädrich, Claudia ; Krastel, Hermann ; Lagrèze, Wolf A.

Further information

• DOI: 10.1186/s12886-021-02201-0
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2232805
• Rights: Kein Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:20 AM CEST