Premium
Murine typhus in a liver transplant recipient: report of a first case
Author(s) -
Phatharodom P.,
Limsrichamrern S.,
Kaewwinud J.,
Chayakulkeeree M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
transplant infectious disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1399-3062
pISSN - 1398-2273
DOI - 10.1111/tid.12394
Subject(s) - medicine , rickettsia typhi , doxycycline , murine typhus , liver transplantation , chest radiograph , fever of unknown origin , antibiotics , typhus , immunology , transplantation , pathology , virology , lung , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Zoonoses, especially rickettsial diseases, are rarely reported in solid organ transplant recipients. We report here a case of murine typhus in a 69‐year‐old liver transplant recipient, who presented with acute febrile illness 5 years post transplantation. Although receiving treatment with broad‐spectrum antibiotics, he was still febrile and developed progressive dyspnea. Laboratory results showed elevated transaminases and his chest radiograph revealed bilateral interstitial infiltration. The diagnosis of murine typhus was made by a 4‐fold rise in specific R ickettsia typhi antibody, using indirect immunofluorescent assay. He dramatically improved after treatment with doxycycline for 7 days. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of murine typhus in a liver transplant recipient.