Fatal Donor-Derived Disseminated Acanthamoeba Infection in a Liver Transplant Recipient

Acanthamoeba spp. was determined to be the cause of illness after an adult liver transplant recipient died from rapidly progressive encephalitis. Upon autopsy, amebae were identified in multiple organs, including the transplanted liver. The donor had history of kidney transplantation and died of encephalitis presumed to be due to toxoplasmosis. Acanthamoeba was identified in donor brain tissue by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Clinicians assessing prospective solid organ donors with encephalitis should consider Acanthamoeba infection.