Isospora belli infection after isolated intestinal transplant.

GRUZ, FERNANDO; FUXMAN C.(1); ERREA A.(2),; RUMBO M

TRANSPLANT INFECTIOUS DISEASE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2010 p. 175 - 178

1398-2273

Isospora belli is a protozoan that only affects humans, after ingestion of Isospora´s oocysts. Immunocompetent patients usually do not develop the infection. Immunocompromised hosts may have profuse diarrhea with other gastrointestinal symptoms. Treatment is based on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. In 2006 we performed an isolated intestinal transplantation in a patient with ultra-short bowel syndrome. Neither rejection nor clinical problems occurred after transplant, but signs of intestinal inflammation were seen in every protocol biopsy starting at the first month post transplant. Almost 3 months after the procedure, the patient was re-admitted with diarrhea. I. belli infection was diagnosed by detection of the oocysts in stool samples. Antibiotic treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was initiated with excellent outcome and without relapses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of isosporosis in a small bowel recipient.