Balamuthia mandrillaris Transmitted Through Organ Transplantation - Mississippi, 2009

A physician in Mississippi contacted Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to report possible transplant-transmitted encephalitis in two kidney transplant recipients who shared the same organ donor on Dec 14, 2009. Here, Schlessinger et al talk about the first reported transmission of Balamuthia by organ transplantation. They stress that clinicians should be aware of Balamuthia infection as a potentially fatal cause of encephalitis. They detail the investigation conducted by the state health departments in Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, and Alabama and CDC about the cases, elucidate possible exposures in the donor, and develop recommendations for early detection and prevention. A CDC editorial note is presented.