THE PIG AS A POTENTIAL ORGAN DONOR FOR MAN - A STUDY OF POTENTIALLY TRANSFERABLE DISEASE FROM DONOR PIG TO RECIPIENT MAN

Ten pigs, reared in an unmodified laboratory animal house environment, have been investigated to ascertain the incidence of diseases or diso rders, including infection, neoplasia, or metabolic abnormalities, tha t might preclude the transplantation of major organs from the pig to m an. Noninvasive studies were performed in the second month of life (st udy 1) and repeated after an interval that varied between 3 and 5 1/2 months (study 2). Necropsy was then performed as a means of assessing the accuracy of the 2 screening examinations. A total of 150 tests wer e performed on each pig. At both studies the feces contained cysts and /or trophozoites of several parasites, all of which were considered co mmensals. No other organisms po potentially infective for man were ide ntified either at study or at necropsy. Neither congenital anomalies n or malignant neoplasia was found at necropsy. However, in 2 pigs a vas culitis of uncertain etiology was present in the kidneys on microscopi c examination, and in one of these the same condition affected the hea rt. This pathology was suspected neither from the screening examinatio ns nor from the macroscopic appearance of these organs. Biopsy and mic roscopic examination would therefore appear to be essential before any organ is transplanted into a human.