Human Infection by Zoonotic Eye Fluke Philophthalmus lacrymosus, South America

Thomas Weitzel; Esteban M. Cordero; Trinidad Mujica; Carolina Aravena; Brianne E. Phillips; Michael J. Yabsley; Gregory A. Lewbart; Diego Páez-Rosas; María Isabel Jercic; Sofía Capasso

doi:10.3201/eid3112.251126

Human Infection by Zoonotic Eye Fluke Philophthalmus lacrymosus, South America

Thomas Weitzel^*
, Esteban M. Cordero
, Trinidad Mujica
, Carolina Aravena
, Brianne E. Phillips
, Michael J. Yabsley
, Gregory A. Lewbart
, Diego Páez-Rosas
, María Isabel Jercic
, Sofía Capasso

^*Corresponding author for this work

Gestión Ambiental SP Galápagos

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Universidad del Desarrollo
Ministerio de Salud de Chile
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Zoo New England
University of Georgia
North Carolina State University
Galápagos Conservancy
Food Science and Engineering (Oniris)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We report a case of severe conjunctivitis in a traveler infected with a Philophthalmus lacrymosus eye fluke, probably acquired on the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. This zoonotic parasite is endemic in Brazil and Venezuela, where it has been reported in birds and capybaras.

Original language	English
Journal	Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volume	31
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3112.251126
State	Published - Dec 2025

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.3201/eid3112.251126

Cite this

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title = "Human Infection by Zoonotic Eye Fluke Philophthalmus lacrymosus, South America",

abstract = "We report a case of severe conjunctivitis in a traveler infected with a Philophthalmus lacrymosus eye fluke, probably acquired on the Gal{\'a}pagos Islands in Ecuador. This zoonotic parasite is endemic in Brazil and Venezuela, where it has been reported in birds and capybaras.",

author = "Thomas Weitzel and Cordero, \{Esteban M.\} and Trinidad Mujica and Carolina Aravena and Phillips, \{Brianne E.\} and Yabsley, \{Michael J.\} and Lewbart, \{Gregory A.\} and Diego P{\'a}ez-Rosas and Jercic, \{Mar{\'i}a Isabel\} and Sof{\'i}a Capasso",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.3201/eid3112.251126",

language = "Ingl{\'e}s",

volume = "31",

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publisher = "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Human Infection by Zoonotic Eye Fluke Philophthalmus lacrymosus, South America

AU - Weitzel, Thomas

AU - Cordero, Esteban M.

AU - Mujica, Trinidad

AU - Aravena, Carolina

AU - Phillips, Brianne E.

AU - Yabsley, Michael J.

AU - Lewbart, Gregory A.

AU - Páez-Rosas, Diego

AU - Jercic, María Isabel

AU - Capasso, Sofía

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - We report a case of severe conjunctivitis in a traveler infected with a Philophthalmus lacrymosus eye fluke, probably acquired on the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. This zoonotic parasite is endemic in Brazil and Venezuela, where it has been reported in birds and capybaras.

AB - We report a case of severe conjunctivitis in a traveler infected with a Philophthalmus lacrymosus eye fluke, probably acquired on the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. This zoonotic parasite is endemic in Brazil and Venezuela, where it has been reported in birds and capybaras.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026639087

U2 - 10.3201/eid3112.251126

DO - 10.3201/eid3112.251126

M3 - Artículo

C2 - 41490519

AN - SCOPUS:105026639087

SN - 1080-6040

VL - 31

JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases

JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases

IS - 12

ER -

Human Infection by Zoonotic Eye Fluke Philophthalmus lacrymosus, South America

Abstract

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