Xenotransplantation and Xenogeneic Infections

Abstract

The ongoing shortage of human organs and tissues for transplantation, coupled with scientific and biotechnological advances, has catalyzed new attempts to use animal tissues in humans — a field known as xenotransplantation. Pigs and nonhuman primates have been used as sources of organs, with limited success.1,2 Recently, the transplantation of baboon bone marrow to attempt to reconstitute the immune system in patients with AIDS was proposed,3 and fetal-pig mesencephalon cells are being studied for the treatment of patients with refractory parkinsonism.The use of xenogeneic tissues in transplantation has raised concern about potential infection with both recognized zoonotic pathogens . . .