Aim
To characterize changes in the cornea nerve and pain responses in fungal keratitis (FK).
Conclusion
Corneal nerve density is lower in FK patients and Aspergillus fumigatus-infected mice than in controls. Pain sensitivity decreases with postinfection corneal ulcer aggravation. β-EP and µ receptor proteins are both upregulated in infected mouse corneas.
Methods
A retrospective analysis of in vivo confocal microscopy images of 11 FK corneas was performed, and the
Results
Total nerve number, main nerve trunk number, and nerve branching were significantly lower in FK patients than in controls, but tortuosity was not significantly different. In infected mice, subbasal nerve density decreased from 1d p.i., reaching a minimum at 5d p.i. Clinical scores rose at 1d p.i., peaked at 3d p.i., and decreased at 5d p.i. Mechanical sensitivity thresholds showed the same trends. β-EP and µ receptor protein expression increased after infection.