Screening donors for xenotransplantation. The potential for xenozoonoses.
Xenotransplantation is a potential solution to the current donor shortage for solid organ transplantation. The transmission of infectious agents from donor organs or bone marrow to the recipient is a well-recognized phenomenon following allotransplantation. Thus the prospect of xenotransplantation raises the issue of xenozoonoses--i.e., the transmission of animal infections to the human host. Anticipating an increasing number of baboon to human transplants, 31 adult male baboons (Papio cynocephalus) from a single colony in the United States were screened for the presence of antibody to microbial agents (principally viral) that may pose a significant risk of infection. Antibody to simian cytomegalovirus, simian agent 8 and Epstein-Barr virus, was found in 97% of animals tested. Antibody to simian retroviruses and Toxoplasma gondii was found in 30% and 32% respectively. Discordant results were found when paired samples were examined by two primate laboratories. This was particularly noted when methodologies were based on cross-reaction with human viral antigens. These results highlight the need to develop specific antibody tests against the species used for xenotransplantation.
Michaels
M G
MG
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
McMichael
J P
JP
Brasky
K
K
Kalter
S
S
Peters
R L
RL
Starzl
T E
TE
Simmons
R L
RL
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010215:Papio / Q000382:microbiology*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral