First Report on Detection of Dengue Virus in the Donor Cornea.

Background: Dengue fever is the most prevalent form of flavivirus infection in humans. We have investigated whether corneoscleral tissue of the donor affected by dengue virus (DENV) harbors the virus.

Purpose: To identify the risk for viral transmission through corneal transplants in areas where DENV circulates.

Methods: Excised corneoscleral tissue from a cadaver with a history of viral hemorrhagic fever was analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for the presence of DENV and chikungunya virus (CHIV).

Results: DENV was detected in RNA extracted from the donor corneoscleral rim. Further genotyping of the viral isolate from the virus-infected cell harvest revealed DENV type 3 as the causative agent. CHIV was not detected.

Conclusions: The data presented in this study recommend the implementation of polymerase chain reaction for detection of DENV and CHIV to analyze excised corneoscleral tissue of a donor with viral hemorrhagic fever.