A case of Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in an HIV-negative renal transplant recipient

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 221 - 223
• Main Authors: METGE, S, TRAN VAN NHIEU, J, DAHMANE, D, GRIMBERT, P, FOULET, F, SARFATI, C, BRETAGNE, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-03-2000; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS/HIV; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Diarrhea - parasitology; Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Feces - parasitology; Female; HIV Seronegativity; Human mycoses; Humans; Infectious diseases; Kidney Transplantation; Medical sciences; Microsporida - isolation & purification; Microsporidiosis - diagnosis; Microsporidiosis - parasitology; Mycoses; Mycoses of the digestive system; Human; Protozoa; Opportunistic infection; Protozoal disease; Diarrhea; Transplantation; Parasitosis; Homotransplantation; Kidney; Cnidosporidia; Infection; Case study; Pathology; Immunosuppression; Microbiological investigation; Mycological investigation; Surgery; Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Adult; Female; Microsporidiosis; Clinical investigation
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373
• DOI: 10.1007/s100960050463

Reported here is a case of microsporidiosis that occurred in an HIV-negative renal transplant recipient. The patient developed protracted diarrhea 18 months following transplant surgery. Many spores of Enterocytozoon bieneusi were detected in stool smears using a modified trichrome staining method. Identification was confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction. Histological examination of duodenal biopsies revealed numerous spores in the cytoplasm of enterocytes. Tacrolimus and steroid regimens were decreased, treatment with mycophenolate mofetil was discontinued, and the patient was given albendazole and metronidazole for 2 weeks. The diarrhea resolved after 15 days of treatment; 2 months later the patient had recovered completely. A more systematic search for microsporidia using specific staining procedures should be performed in transplant recipients who develop severe diarrhea.