Ocular Manifestations of Mosquito-Transmitted Diseases

Mil Med. 2018 Mar 1;183(suppl_1):450-458. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usx183.

Abstract

Of the 3,548 known mosquito species, about 100 transmit human diseases. Mosquitoes are distributed globally throughout tropical and temperate regions where standing water sources are available for egg laying and the maturation of larva. Female mosquitoes require blood meals for egg production. This is the main pathway for disease transmission. Mosquitoes carry several pathogenic organisms responsible for significant ocular pathology and vision loss including West Nile, Rift Valley, chikungunya, dengue viruses, various encephalitis viruses, malarial parasites, Francisella tularensis, microfilarial parasites, including Dirofilaria, Wuchereria, and Brugia spp., and human botfly larvae. Health care providers may not be familiar with many of these mosquito-transmitted diseases or their associated ocular findings delaying diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of visual function. This article aims to provide an overview of the ocular manifestations associated with mosquito-transmitted diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chikungunya Fever / diagnosis
  • Chikungunya Fever / physiopathology
  • Chikungunya virus / pathogenicity
  • Culicidae
  • Dengue / diagnosis
  • Dengue / physiopathology
  • Dengue Virus / pathogenicity
  • Eye Infections / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections / physiopathology
  • Francisella tularensis / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Malaria / diagnosis
  • Malaria / physiopathology
  • Mosquito Vectors / pathogenicity*
  • Rift Valley Fever / diagnosis
  • Rift Valley Fever / physiopathology
  • Rift Valley fever virus / pathogenicity
  • Tularemia / diagnosis
  • Tularemia / physiopathology
  • West Nile Fever / diagnosis
  • West Nile Fever / physiopathology
  • West Nile virus / pathogenicity
  • Zika Virus / pathogenicity
  • Zika Virus Infection / diagnosis
  • Zika Virus Infection / physiopathology