title: Balamuthia mandrillaris meningoencephalitis associated with solid organ transplantation--review of cases.
abstract: We report the first identified transmission of Balamuthia mandrillaris through solid organ transplantation. Kidneys were transplanted from a donor with presumptive diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis. Shortly after, the recipients developed neurologic symptoms. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain from the donor and both kidney recipients demonstrated multiple ring enhancing lesions with surrounding edema and adjacent leptomeningeal extension. In addition most of the lesions demonstrated signal changes suggesting central hemorrhagic foci. Specimens were tested locally and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Histopathology revealed B. mandrillaris in either brain tissue and/or cerebral spinal fluid in the donor and recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiolology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LaFleur
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiolology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joyner
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiolology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS USA.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schlakman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS USA.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orozco-Castillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiolology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS USA.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D059611:Balamuthia mandrillaris / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology; D014019:Tissue Donors
keywords: Balamuthia; Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis; Mandrillaris; MeningoEncephalitis; Parasitic infections; Transplant related infections