Disseminated Toxoplasmosis, Resulting from Infection of Allograft, after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: Usefulness of Quantitative PCR

Abstract

Disseminated toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening disease in liver transplant recipients that can result from an organ-transmitted infection. We report here a case of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis after orthotopic liver transplantation from a seropositive donor (immunoglobulin G [IgG](+) and IgM(-)) in a patient who was nonimmune for toxoplasmosis prior to transplantation. Quantitative PCR analyses of various clinical specimens, including serum samples, appeared retrospectively to be a valuable diagnostic tool that might guide therapeutic attitudes.