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May 27, 2001 Animal-human transplants risk infection, forum hears By Heather Middleton -- Special to The Free Press TORONTO -- Pig hearts, dog livers, and rabbit cells could be the answer to Canada's transplant woes, but ethical and medical concerns have to be addressed first, a citizens' forum was told yesterday. Xenotransplantation -- the transplantation of organs or tissue from one species to another -- is being discussed this weekend at a forum organized by the Canadian Public Health Association. "The response has been quite varied," said Dr. Heather Ross, co- chairperson of the public advisory group and medical director of the cardiac transplant program at Toronto General Hospital. The public health association has agreed to consult the public on the health, ethical, legal, economic and social issues related to xenotransplantation and report the results to the health minister later this year. Though no human clinical trials of xenotransplantation have been held in Canada, ongoing animal-to-animal xenotransplant research is being done and "it is conceivable that a study would be put forward to Health Canada to look at xenotransplant in humans," Ross said. The U.S. has been conducting clinical xenotransplant trials using animal cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Xenotransplant cells could also be used to treat diabetes patients and stroke victims. "The major concern is relating to the possibility of infection," Ross said. "We know that animals have been reservoirs for infections to man through time. We also know that there are certain viruses which are part of the actual DNA of the pig, and that they would potentially come with the pig transplant and the concern is what sort of infectious risk that would cause in man." Animal rights activists questioned whether testing should be done on animals and if the transplanting of animal organs into humans is really necessary. "There are alternatives, the most logical one being more human organs being donated in our country," said Stephanie Brown of the Animal Alliance of Canada. Ross said even if every potential donor in Canada were identified and consented to organ donation, there would still be a need for organs. Despite the potential life-saving benefits of xenotransplantation, patients with animal organs or cells could face life-long controls to prevent the spread of disease. The controls could include requiring them to have safe sex, identify all sexual partners and not have children. They could also be prevented from entering other countries. This weekend's forum is the fourth in a series of six across Canada. http://www.canoe.ca/LondonNews/05n3.html *********** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn