A new study from UC Davis Health could help to increase the supply of donor kidneys. Researchers have found that transplant patients who receive kidneys infected with the parasite toxoplasma have virtually the same outcomes as those who receive toxoplasma-negative organs. Despite longstanding concerns, those who received kidneys from toxoplasma antibody positive donors (TPDs) had almost identical mortality and rejection rates.
The research was published in Transplant International . Organs from donors who were positive for toxoplasma did just as well as organs from those who were negative, both for survival of the patients and survival of the kidneys." Lavjay Butani, Study Co-Author and Chief, Pediatric Nephrology, University of California - Davis Health He coauthored the paper with Daniel Tancredi, professor of pediatrics.
He added, "This is quite encouraging." Inconsistency in approach Toxoplasma is a ubiquitous parasite that infects many people but generally causes no harm. However, people who are immunosuppressed, such as kidney recipients, could be at higher risk.
Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted through the transplanted kidney and reactivate a latent infection in the kidney recipient. Related Stories Breakthrough in aging research: Blocking IL-11 extends lifespan and improves health in mice Study suggests lifetime selection biases skew positive health claims in alcohol research Plant-based diet proven to combat hypertension Still, there has been tremendous inconsistency.