Acute Keratoconjunctivitis Resulting From Coinfection With Avian Newcastle Virus and Human Adenovirus.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report a case of human keratoconjunctivitis caused by both Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and human adenovirus.

METHODS

A 32-year-old-man presented with an acute unilateral keratoconjunctivitis that resolved with corneal scarring. On presentation, his conjunctival swab was collected for metagenomic sequencing.

RESULTS

The highest number of pathogen sequencing reads in the conjunctival sample mapped to the NDV. The second highest number of reads mapped to human adenovirus. Confirmation testing with directed reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction also identified NDV in the specimen.

CONCLUSIONS

Newcastle conjunctivitis has not been reported for more than 40 years. Mixed infections, including zoonotic pathogens, may be more common than realized.