Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
An Unexpected Case of Opisthorchis felineus Infection Revealed during Liver Transplantation |
| Authors: |
Valentina D Mangano, Daniela Campani, Andrea Cacciato Insilla, Barbara Coco, Maria Angeles Gomez Morales, Maurizia Brunetto, Giuseppe La Rosa, Alessandra Ludovisi, Paolo De Simone, Fabrizio Bruschi |
| Source: |
Pathogens, Vol 12, Iss 8, p 1003 (2023) |
| Publisher Information: |
MDPI AG, 2023. |
| Publication Year: |
2023 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Medicine |
| Subject Terms: |
Opistorchis, liver transplant, parasitic infection, Medicine |
| More Details: |
A man with hepatitis B infection was admitted to Pisa University Hospital for hepatological evaluation, which revealed multiple cystic lesions and suggested a cirrhotic evolution. Treatment with Entecavir 0.5 mg/day was started, resulting in rapid viral load suppression and alanine aminotransferase normalization. After 10 years, imaging documented a single nodule of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and a robot-assisted nodule resection was performed. One year later, HCC recurrence prompted orthotopic liver transplantation, during which the patient died because of the sudden rupture of the donor’s organ and rapid multiorgan deterioration before retransplantation. During post-mortem liver examination, adult worms were evidenced within large biliary ducts, suggesting infection with Opisthorchis or Clonorchis spp. flukes. Sequencing of the ITS2 locus, following PCR amplification of DNA extracted from liver tissue, revealed 100% identity with the reference sequence of O. felineus. Infection of the patient with O. felineus was confirmed by the presence of specific IgG detected by ELISA in the patient’s sera. Two major alkaline phosphatase serum levels peaks observed during the first two years of antiviral therapy support the hypothesis that O. felineus infection worsened liver function. This case report highlights the importance of a very careful screening of parasitic infections in solid organ transplantation candidates. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2076-0817 |
| Relation: |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1003; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-0817 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/pathogens12081003 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/592b7c204bc94d759dc44397daa07186 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.592b7c204bc94d759dc44397daa07186 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
