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Zoonotic Diseases

The emergence of new, unrecognized pathogens in the xenotransplant recipient is one of the primary concerns about the pig-to-human heart xenotransplantation. A major concern is the possibility of zoonotic diseases developing in the xenotransplant recipient and spreading to the public. Both in the United States and around the world, zoonotic diseases are quite widespread. According to scientists, more than 6 out of every 10 recognized infectious diseases in humans are transferred by animals. While the risk of zoonotic diseases from the donor organ may be allowable for the xenotransplant recipient, the risk of a zoonotic agent with unforeseeable pathogenicity from the xenotransplant recipient to the community at large would an inadmissible public health risk.





Citation: 

Boneva, R. S. (2001, January 14). Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88959/

Sawyer, B. (2016). Zoonotic Diseases in Mini Pigs. Mini Pig Info. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.minipiginfo.com/mini-pigs-and-zoonotic-diseases.html 




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