BRUCELLA-MELITENSIS ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS

A 17-year-old female patient was examined and found to have Brucella-sp.-induced endophthalmitis in her left eye. The specific organism was Brucella melitensis, biotype 3, a known virulent organism. Serum agglutination titres from two independent laboratories were positive, yet of different levels: 1:320 and 1:1,280. Although brucellosis is thought to be eradicated in many countries, it prevails in agrarian environments, where it can be transmitted to man. This report is the first evidence to confirm that B. melitensis is a definitive causative organism of endogenous ocular infection.