First case of Tropicoporus tropicalis keratitis in an immunocompetent host from India and review of the literature.

Abstract Tropicoporus tropicalis is an environmental basidiomycete that has been implicated in nine cases of cutaneous (n = 7) and pulmonary (n = 2) human infections predominantly in chronic granulomatous disease patients. We report here the first case of keratitis caused by Tropicoporus tropicalis in a 40-year-old immunocompetent patient, who presented with sudden diminution of vision in right eye. Corneal scrapings revealed hyaline, septate hyphae in microscopy and culture showed growth of white non-sporulating mycelial growth which was confirmed as Tropicoporus tropicalis by sequencing of ITS region of 28S rDNA. The patient was initiated on topical voriconazole along with natamycin, gatifloxacin and atropine drops. However, despite treatment, corneal ulcer perforated, for which penetrating keratoplasty was performed. Thereafter, he was prescribed amphotericin B (AMB) drops sixteen times a day and ketoconazole 200 mg twice a day with no recurrence reported over one year of follow up. The case represents the first case of infection by this fungus from India and also is the first case to be reported in an immunocompetent host.