Donor-Derived Ehrlichiosis Caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis from Living Donor Kidney Transplant

Emerg Infect Dis. 2025 Mar;31(3):587-590. doi: 10.3201/eid3103.241723.

Abstract

Tickborne infections are challenging to diagnose, particularly among solid organ transplant recipients. We report a US case of donor-derived ehrlichiosis from a living kidney donation that highlights how screening for living donors may miss tickborne infections. Clinicians should consider the epidemiology of the donor when screening donations and evaluating recipients for donor-derived infection.

Keywords: Ehrlichia chaffeensis; Minnesota; United States; Wisconsin; bacteria; donor-derived infection; living donor; solid organ transplant; vector-borne infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ehrlichia chaffeensis* / genetics
  • Ehrlichia chaffeensis* / isolation & purification
  • Ehrlichiosis* / diagnosis
  • Ehrlichiosis* / drug therapy
  • Ehrlichiosis* / microbiology
  • Ehrlichiosis* / transmission
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Living Donors*