Screening of baboons as potential liver donors for humans

Abstract

Abstract: The baboon could supply organs for humans, and there may be a particular role for baboon livers in “bridging” patients in terminal hepatic failure who are awaiting a human liver. We have investigated 10 healthy adult baboons in regard to i) hepatic metabolism and ii) the presence of infections that might be transferred to a human recipient with a transplanted organ. Blood was drawn for a general profile of hematologic, metabolic, and biochemical parameters and compared with standard values for humans. All baboons were i) examined by a veterinarian, ii) tuberculin tested, iii) virologically screened, and iv) screened for bacterial, protozoal, helminth, and fungal infections. Tests i–iii were repeated after a 3‐month interval. BUN, LDH, and SGOT levels were higher than in the human in >50% of the cases. Fasting blood glucose, uric acid, cholesterol, albumin, and total bilirubin levels were frequently lower. Serology was positive both for HTLV1 and STLV in three baboons. All baboons were positive for foamy virus, but this was not thought to exclude them as organ donors. There was a high incidence of positivity for DNA viruses (SA8, SA6, HSV, CMV, and EBV) but generally indicated past, rather than active, infection. Hepatitis A serology, but not IgM, was positive in four baboons, but hepatitis B and C were negative in all (except in two where there was transient positivity to hepatitis B). SA11 rotavirus serology was positive in six. No evidence for mycobacterial, protozoal, helminth, or fungal infection was found, although one baboon had positive serology for toxoplasma IgG. We would conclude that six or possibly seven of the 10 baboons would be acceptable as donors of organs for humans. Only the three with positive serology for the retroviruses HTLV1 and STLV would be definitely excluded. A case could be made for also excluding the baboon positive for Toxoplasma IgG.