First report of presumed parasitic keratitis in Indians from the Brazilian Amazon.

PURPOSE: To describe corneal disorders in patients with systemic parasitic disease. METHODS: Cross-sectional study consisted of ophthalmologic examinations, peripheral blood tests and skin biopsies in 496 subjects (395 Indians and 101 non-indians) from the upper Negro River, Brazilian Amazon. RESULTS: Mansonella ozzardi was detected in the blood of 140 (28.23%) subjects. Seventy-six (55.07%) of them also presented multiple nummular opaque superficial lesions in the cornea. None of the examined patients presented onchocercal-related skin lesions or positive skin biopsies for filaria. CONCLUSION: There was a significant association between mansonelliasis and keratitis.