Atypical Unilateral Multifocal Choroiditis and Retinal Vasculitis Following Presumed West Nile Virus Infection

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2025 Oct;33(8):1561-1564. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2025.2495829. Epub 2025 Apr 23.

Abstract

Purpose: We report a case of an atypical multifocal choroiditis with retinal vasculitis associated with positive West Nile serology.

Methods: Retrospective case report.

Results: A healthy 18-year-old man presented with floaters in the left eye that started while backpacking in Wyoming. Examination and testing revealed numerous chorioretinal lesions in the left eye, as well as retinal vasculitis and evidence of branch retinal vein occlusion. Serology was positive for West Nile Virus.

Conclusion: West Nile virus may be a trigger for development of multifocal choroiditis in susceptible individuals.

Keywords: Multifocal choroiditis; West Nile Virus; ocular WNV; retinal vasculitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Choroiditis* / diagnosis
  • Choroiditis* / drug therapy
  • Choroiditis* / etiology
  • Choroiditis* / virology
  • Eye Infections, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Viral* / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Viral* / virology
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multifocal Choroiditis* / diagnosis
  • Multifocal Choroiditis* / virology
  • Retinal Vasculitis* / diagnosis
  • Retinal Vasculitis* / drug therapy
  • Retinal Vasculitis* / etiology
  • Retinal Vasculitis* / virology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity
  • West Nile Fever* / complications
  • West Nile Fever* / diagnosis
  • West Nile Fever* / virology
  • West Nile virus* / genetics
  • West Nile virus* / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral