Background, Microsporidia are common pathogens among patients infected with
human immunodeficiency virus. They account for a substantial proportion of
chronic diarrhea and malabsorption in acquired immune deficiency syndrome,
but their appearance after solid organ transplantation has only rarely bee
n reported.
Methods. We report what we believe is the first case of documented Enterocy
tozoon bieneusi infection in a liver transplant recipient.
Results. Our patient presented with chronic diarrhea and colicky abdominal
pain. Although symptoms were severe, only mild microscopical mucosal change
s were found in the intestinal tract, A modified trichrome stain of stool s
pecimens revealed microsporidial spores, and species differentiation by res
triction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction identified
Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Albendazole therapy brought symptomatic relief but
no microbiological clearance,
Conclusions. Enterocytozoon bieneusi may cause chronic diarrhea not only in
immunosuppression as a result of human immunodeficiency virus infection bu
t also among patients with therapeutic immunosuppression after organ transp
lantation. Therefore, microsporidial infection should be considered in immu
nosuppressed patients with otherwise unexplained diarrhea.