Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Murine Heterotopic Heart Transplant Technique
10:27

Murine Heterotopic Heart Transplant Technique

Published on: July 8, 2014

19.7K

Toxoplasmic encephalitis associated with meningitis in a heart transplant recipient

C Baliu1, G Sanclemente, M Cardona

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Transplant Infectious Disease : an Official Journal of the Transplantation Society
|June 7, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Toxoplasma gondii can cause rare meningitis in immunocompromised patients, even after heart transplants. This case highlights the importance of considering toxoplasmosis in meningitis differential diagnoses for these vulnerable individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic pathogen.
  • Immunosuppressed patients are at risk for toxoplasmosis.
  • Neurologic manifestations like encephalitis are common, but meningitis is rare.

Observation:

  • A heart transplant recipient developed toxoplasmic encephalitis and meningitis.
  • Literature review revealed very few cases of T. gondii meningitis in solid organ transplant recipients and other immunosuppressed patients.

Findings:

  • Toxoplasmic meningitis is an exceptionally rare complication of T. gondii infection.
  • This case adds to the limited understanding of T. gondii meningitis in transplant recipients.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider toxoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of meningitis in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Early recognition and treatment of toxoplasmosis are crucial for better patient outcomes.
Keywords:
cerebral abscessheart transplantationmeningitistoxoplasmosis

More Related Videos

Heterotopic Cervical Heart Transplantation in Mice09:48

Heterotopic Cervical Heart Transplantation in Mice

Published on: August 25, 2015

11.2K
A Modified Cuff Technique for Mouse Cervical Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Model06:45

A Modified Cuff Technique for Mouse Cervical Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Model

Published on: February 7, 2022

3.5K

Related Concept Videos

Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
11
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
20
Tissue Transplantation01:24

Tissue Transplantation

Tissue transplantation is a significant medical procedure involving the transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from a donor to a recipient, with the primary aim of restoring lost functions. This procedure is crucial in treating a broad spectrum of diseases, including kidney diseases, liver failure, heart disease, and certain types of cancers.
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
1.4K
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
54
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
100