Transmission of Chagas disease through renal transplantation: report of a case

Humans are normally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi through triatomine bugs. However, blood transfusion, congenital transmission, laboratory accidents, and breast-feeding are accepted as alternative mechanisms of transmission. The possible acquisition of Chagas disease through transplantation of a kidney from an infected donor was initially reported by Chocair et al. (1981) and followed by the description of 7 cases of acute Chagas disease probably acquired in this manner. Since we consider this to be an unusual occurrence, we report here a new case of acute Chagas disease in a patient submitted to renal transplantation.