[Brucella keratoconjunctivitis].

A case is described in which the rubber cap of a vial containing Brucella abortus vaccine came off accidentally and some of the contents splashed in the eyes of a veterinarian. A uni-ocular keratoconjunctivitis developed. The other eye was similarly affected 1 week later. Brucella tests were negative. Two months later the Br. abortus titre was 1/640 and the Br. melitensis titre 1/320. Systemic treatment with tetracyclines, co-trimoxazole and streptomycin and local treatment with chloramphenicol and atropine had no effect. Two attacks of acute keratoconjunctivitis subsequently occurred within two hours of handling Brucella vaccine. In the right eye a corneal abscess developed, as well as uveitis and cataract. Extracapsular lens extraction was performed. Panophthalmitis followed and the eye was enucleated. The literature is reviewed and the possibility of a Brucella keratoconjunctivitis indistinguishable from viral keratoconjunctivitis is discussed.