Development of species-specific primers for detection of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris causing black rot of crucifers

Aim: Black rot of crucifers caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Pammel) Dowson (Xcc) is a major seed-borne disease. The present study aimed to develop a rapid diagnostic protocol for the specific and sensitive detection of this pathogen. Methodology: A specific primer set was designed based on rpf gene and optimization of PCR condition was done for specific detection of Xcc. Sensitivity of PCR for primer set was then determined by diluting the Xcc DNA and cells. Results: Specific primer set was able to amplify a specific band of 304 bp in all 11 isolates of Xcc but failed to amplify other Xanthomonas species and one each of Ralstonia solanacearum, Erwinia caratovora subsp. caratovora, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. aeruginosa. The primer set was highly sensitive as it was able to detect 10 pg μl-1 bacterial DNA and up to 3x103 CFU ml-1 corresponding to 12 viable cells of Xcc which were used as template for PCR reaction Interpretation: The results suggest that developed PCR primers are highly specific and sensitive and it can be used to detect the pathogen at an early stage of infection for disease management.

Phthiriasis palpebrarum in Pakistan

A 14-year-old girl from Sindh Pakistan had phthiriasis paplpebraum, infestation with Phthirus pubis, of her right upper eyelid. This case in a Pakistani patient is most unusual in that the Muslim cleanliness practices include regular shaving of the pubic and axillary hair and the sociosexual mores do not permit sexual promiscuity, eliminating the two likely sources of phthiriasis. Pediculosis capitis and pediculosis coporis on the other hand are common due to widespread poverty in rural areas of Pakistan. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 9: 6, 20, January, 1993]

Congenital upper eyelid eversion and cleft palate

A male infant from Pakistan had rare association of complete cleft palate syndrome and total eversion of the left upper eyelid. Although other eyelid anomalies, such as lid colobomas, have been recorded in patients with cleft palate, we could not find a published report of its association with congenital ectropion or eversion of eyelids. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 9:32, 47, April, 1993.]

Ant infestation of the human orbit [ocular myrmecosis]

A 7-year-old girl suffered from recurrent episodes of pain, redness, and watering of her right eye. During one of the acute episodes, a tiny black object was seen floating in the pool of tears. On microscopic examination it turned out to be a callow of and. During a careful slit lamp examination, the examiner made and videotaped the most astonishing observation of the newly hatched ants digging their way out from under the conjunctive of the inferior fornix. The infestation of the human orbit with ants, the ocular "myrmecosis" is most unusual and at present a difficult to explain phenomenon. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 8:59, 74, July, 1992]

Bilateral upper eyelid coloboma and median groove of the nose

Colobomata of the eyelid are well-recognized and are usually unilateral. Bilateral eyelid coloboma is relatively rare. A six-months old male baby had large colobomata of both upper eyelids and a deep furrow at the tip of nose. The patient had no other facial or systemic abnormalities. Although coloboma was of the same size on both sides, only the right cornea showed xerosis and opacification secondary to exposure. The symmetrical eyelid colobomata and the central furrow in the tip of nose suggest that deformity developed due to a mechanical factor, probably from pressure caused by amniotic bands. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 8: 87-97, 1992]

brief review of the fungal ocular infections and their therapy

Generally, fungal elements invading the eye belong to the category of airborne saprophytes. Diagnosis is made by characteristic clinical features, specific staining, and culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar without cycloheximide. It is necessary that several colonies of the same fungus be isolated for a specific diagnosis. The therapy of fungal infection is based on agents from three groups, polyenes, imidazoles, and fluorinated pyrimidines. Of these, amphotericin B, natamycin [both polyenes], ketoconazole, and miconazole are currently the most popular, natamycin holding the lead

Conjunctival aerobic bacterial flora in Pakistan

To evaluate conjunctival aerobic flora in Pakistani population, we cultured cotton swab conjunctival specimens from 3,727 adults and 158 children. Cultures were positive for these bacteria in 185 out of 7,454 adult eyes [2.5%] and 13 out of 316 pediatric eyes [4%]. The average number of bacterial species isolated from the pediatric eyes [0.04%] was greater than that from the adult eyes [0.025%]. The predominant bacterial species in adults was Staphylococcus aureus [39%], followed by the coagulase negative staphylococci [24%]. Both types of organisms were isolated in equal quantity from the eyes of children [23% each]. Streptococcus pneumoniae was found much more frequently in children [15.4%] than in adults [1.08%]. Also, when compared with adults, children had a significantly higher isolation rate for Gram-negative bacterial species [66% in children to 23% in adults]

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Pakistani subjects - a pilot study

Of 3000 diabetic patients screened, 780 were diagnosed to have retinopathy. The incidence of the complication was higher in the age group of 51 years and above, and it increased alarmingly with the prolongation of the duration of diabetes [76.7%]

Age, sex and duration relationships and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in pakistani population

In a 1959 study, the incidence of diabetes mellitus in the general population of Pakistan was 1.7% in persons below the age of 40, and 3% in persons over 40. In two recent reports, this incidence has been reported to be respectively 3.37% and 7.7%. In 1989, the report on a small series concluded that the incidence of retinopathy in Pakistani diabetics was 50%. In our nonselective randomized study of 3,000 Pakistani diabetic patients registered with the Akhtar Eye Hospital, Karachi between 1982 and 1987, the incidence of diabetic retinopathy was 26% [780 patients out of a total of 3,000 patients]. Out of the 780 diabetics with retinopathy, 409 [52.4%] were men and 371 [47.6%] were women. Background retinopathy and proliferative retinopathy occurred with a comparative ratio of 3.8:1. The highest incidence of retinopathy was seen in patients who had been diabetics for six to 10 years and in patients over the age of 50

Corneal ulcer caused due to infection with amoeba

A patient's cornea was received at Akhtar Eye Hospital from a local hospital. Histopathological examination of the corneal button revealed a huge ulcer full of polymorphs and pus cells and at one or two places it was found to contain ameba, a free living protozoon. The corneal ulcer was caused due to infection with Ameba. A young lady wearing soft contact leases developed amebic corneal infection. Histopathological examination of excised necrotic corneal tissue showed Acanthamoeba

Amebic infection of the eye

A 60-year-old male with previous filtration operation developed severe ocular infection 6 hours after splashing his eyes with tap water. Swab from the fornix demonstrated ameba proteus. A 17-year-old girl, wearing soft contact lens, suddenly developed irritation in the right eye and later on developed characteristic opaque corneal ring in the mid-periphery due to acanthamoeba. A young male developed chronic corneal ulcer which did not respond to any medical treatment. He had penetrating corneal graft. Histological examination of the corneal button demonstrated trophozoite stage of acanthamoeba

Treatment of serous chorodial detachment with intravitreal air injection

Duke Elder described three types of choroidal detachments: [1] Annular, [2] Lobular and [3] Flat. Annular type of choroidal detachment usually involves the ciliary body and peripheral part of the choroid. In the lobular type, there is massive choroidal detachment. Usually there are 2 or 4 lobules in 4 quadrants of the eyeball. Sometimes, they are so big that they touch one another in the middle of the vitreous cavity. Prolonged approximation of these lobules produces strong adhesion between the above-lying retinal layers. The Lobular type of choroidal detachment usually involves ora serrata as well as posterior part of the choroid. The flat type has small areas of choroidal detachments and may be found anywhere. The anterior limit of the choroidal detachment is marked by scleral spur anteriorly, while the posterior limit is the edge of the optic disc. There is a negative pressure in suprachoroidal space about2 mm Hg less than IOP. This negative pressure as well as loose attachment of the ciliary body and choroid to the sclera are responsible for attracting fluid and loose attachment allows easy separation and accumulation of the fluid in the suprachoroidal space

Experience with IOL in children

Final visual results after cataract surgery in children are quite disappointing, especially in unilateral congenital and traumatic cataracts. Occlusion therapy along with the aphakic glasses is ineffective. Contact lenses are cumbersome and are not tolerated by children. IOLs are well tolerated by the children, and aniseikonia produced is less than 5%, thus chances of binocular vision are quite high