Trypanosoma cruzi_T

Status: 
Ready to upload
Record number: 
1834
Adverse Occurrence type: 
MPHO Type: 
Estimated frequency: 
Occasional
Time to detection: 
Ten months
Alerting signals, symptoms, evidence of occurrence: 
Recipient asymptomatic. The recipient was diagnosed with Chagas disease by positive serology using immunochromatography (Operon) and confirmed by determination of anti–T. cruzi antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test and by PCR. The presence of the parasite in blood was also detected by microhematocrit.
Demonstration of imputability or root cause: 
Donor was known to be infected by Trypanosoma cruzi.
Imputability grade: 
3 Definite/Certain/Proven
Suggest references: 
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a Spanish liver transplant recipient. Rodriguez-Guardado et al. Clin Microbiol Infect. 21(7):687.e1-3, 2015 Jul.
Expert comments for publication: 
Incredibly, information from the donor lasted ten months to be communicated to the recipient centre. Although targeted treatment with benznidazol was delayed, recipient finally did well and serology became negative. The infection in the donor does not contraindicate transplantation with the exception of heart and gut. Recipients must be treated preemptively or followed up with serology and NAT to start treatment as soon as tests turned positive.