[Ocular parasitoses and mycoses: cases diagnosed in the Central University Hospital of Sfax between 1996 and 1999].

Parasitical and fungal ophthalmic infections are polymorphic and variably severe. They are rarely reported in publications. The aim of our study has been to specify the parasitic and fungal agents isolated from the ocular samples in our district (Sfax-Tunisia). We surveyed retrospectively the different ocular parasitosis and mycosis diagnosed in our laboratory (Sfax hospital) over a 4 year-period (1996-1999). Fungal ophthalmic infections were dominated by corneal localisations: 20 cases of keratomycosis secondary to: Fusarium solani (8 cases), Aspergillus fumigatus (3 cases); Aspergillus flavus (2 cases); Alternaria sp (2 cases), Candida albicans (2 cases); Fusarium dimerium (1 case); Fusarium oxysporum (1 case) and Scedosporium sp (1 case). A prolonged treatment by ketoconazole had a successful resolution in 70% of cases; 1 case of ciliar tinea caused by Trichophyton violaceum. Parasitic agents were dominated by Demodex folliculorum (32 cases), Phthirius inguinalis (6 cases) and Oestrus ovis (2 cases). Two cases of orbital hydatidosis and 2 cases of palpebral cutaneous leishmania were noted; 21 cases of ocular toxoplasmosis were treated by clindamycine. Our survey concerned not only cosmopolite parasitosis and fungi, but also some affections endemic to our district (hydatidosis and leishmaniasis) with manifestations in isolated ophthalmic localisation. Our research has underscored the need to specify types of infection by way of adequate sampling so as to treat early and then improve prognosis.