A 61-year-old man, who received a donated kidney two months ago, ended up back in the hospital due to severe symptoms. Doctors initially suspected an infection but ruled out various common causes after conducting tests and reviewing his medical history.
The patient’s condition worsened over time, leading to respiratory failure and shock. To determine the cause of his illness, doctors employed a process of elimination, considering his immunosuppressed state and pre-existing medications. However, one critical clue stood out: elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that can indicate parasitic infections.
The patient’s history of contact with domestic animals, including a cat scratch, further suggested a parasitic cause. Despite ruling out common bacterial infections linked to animal scratches, doctors remained stumped until they found an unlikely culprit: Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that can be transmitted through contaminated cat feces.
The case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the challenges faced by transplant patients and the importance of considering unconventional causes when diagnosing life-threatening illnesses.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/06/mans-health-crashes-after-getting-donated-kidney-it-was-riddled-with-worms