The advantages of serological tests of blood and tears for the diagnosis and the follow up of corneal rickettsiosis

Purpose Serological tests were rarely performed in the first intention in the diagnosis of corneal rickettsiosis in patients from an endemic area. The purpose is to elucidate the advantages of serological tests for rickettsiosis in the atypical cases of corneal infections Methods Case series study included 03 patients. immunofluorescent‐antibody tests were performed to detect rickettsiosis in the blood and in the tears Results 2 patients with atypical disciform keratitis, 1 patient with panuveitis with corneal involvement. Rickettsiosis was suspected because of skin palpebral lesions in 2 patients and in chronic uveitis in the 3rd patients. Serological tests were positive in the blood and in the tears. Treatment with tetracyclin was effective in the three cases without use of corticotherapy. In the follow up, good evolution of corneal signs and negative serological tests were noted. Conclusions Rickettsiosis should be considered in the etiology of atypical cases of corneal infection and serological blood and tear testing should be performed firstly in patients from an endemic area.