First Reported Case of Fungal Keratitis Caused by Vishniacozyma victoriae

Introduction

Fungal keratitis is an uncommon but potentially vision-threatening corneal infection caused by a wide variety of fungal organisms [1].

The diagnosis and treatment of fungal keratitis are often delayed due to nonspecific clinical signs and the slow growth of organisms in culture, leading to worse outcomes compared to bacterial keratitis [2].

While fungal keratitis was more common in tropical and subtropical countries and frequently related to trauma, there has been a significant rise in fungal keratitis in recent years also in western countries [3]. The rise of fungal keratitis in the western countries is mostly related to the increasing number of people using contact lenses [1], [2], [4].

Common pathogens of fungal keratitis include Fusarium species (spp.), Aspergillus spp., and Candida spp., with filamentous fungi being more prevalent in tropical climates and yeasts more frequent in temperate regions [1], [5].

With the higher incidence of fungal keratitis, new causative species are also being diagnosed [6], [7].

In this case report, we describe, to the best of our knowledge, the first documented case of fungal keratitis associated with Vishniacozyma victoriae.

Publication History

Received: 08 October 2025

Accepted: 19 November 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
02 December 2025

Article published online:
10 February 2026

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