Enterocytozoon bieneusi as a cause of chronic diarrhea in a heart-lung transplant recipient who was seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a major cause of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption in patients with AIDS. We report what we believe is the first case of intestinal infection due to E. bieneusi in a heart-lung transplant recipient who was seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The clinical presentation and the evolution of the disease were identical to those usually observed in patients with AIDS and included diarrhea, massive weight loss, and persistent infection despite treatment with albendazole. E. bieneusi was identified in the patient's duodenal mucosa by electron microscopy. No other etiologic agent was detected. We conclude that E. bieneusi may be responsible for serious intestinal infections in patients whose immunosuppression is not related to HIV.