| Abstract: | Objective: To use in vivo laser confocal microscopy (IVCM) to observe the in vitro culture and living characteristics of candida spores and pseudohyphaes, and to provide abasis for the early diagnosis of candida keratitis. Methods: The data of 26 patients (26 eyes) who were diagnosed with candida keratitis in the Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 2016 to December 2019 wascollected. At the same time, candida albicans and candida parapsilosis were taken for laboratory fungal culture, and the typical morphology of candida spores and pseudohyphae in vitro and in vivo were observed by IVCM. Results: Candidaspores in vitro and in vivo presented uniformly in the shape of round spots with a diameter of 2-5 μm and a clear boundary. Pseudohyphae have a highly reflective linear structure. The reflection of spores was significantly enhanced in vivo. Eighteen eyes showed a scattered arrangement of spot-like, strongly reflective structure, and 11 eyes showed a dense fog structure. The morphology of pseudomycelia varied greatly. The mycelia in 2 eyes were slender, the spore structure was present in 5 eyes, and branches were visible. In 1 eye, an irregular thin and long rod shape with high contrast was observed, and in another eye, an irregular thin and long rod shape and spore structure could be observed simultaneously. Candida albicans pseudohyphae were relatively slender, with a length of 20-150 μm and a diameter of 2-10 μm. Pseudohyphae of candida parapsilosis were short and thick, with a length of about 30-100 μm and a diameter of 2-5 μm. Part of the branch spore structure was highlighted. Conclusions: Candida keratitis showstypical spore and pseudohyphae structures with IVCM. The morphology of candida keratitis spores in vitro and in vivo are consistent with observations under IVCM, but the morphology of pseudohyphaes are relatively different. IVCM can be used for the early diagnosis of candida keratitis. |
