Pig virus not necessarily alarming for humans
UPn 15.10.97 19:13
Copyright 1997 United Press International. All rights reserved.
The following news report may not be republished or
redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written
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By ELIZABETH MANNING
UPI Science News
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- An expert in pig-to-human organ
transplants points out that discovering new viruses in pig DNA
says little about potential consequences for human organ
recipients.
Dr. Jeffrey Platt told United Press International that the
report, published today by British researchers today in the
journal Nature, carries several caveats.
First, says the Duke University physician, the fact that the pig
viruses can enter human cells in the test tube does not
automatically mean the viruses can live and reproduce in actual
humans. Nor does infection automatically mean disease -- the
viruses may have no effect in a new host at all.
Platt notes that pig cells have been getting into humans for
thousands of years. Some infections, the influenza virus being
the most famous, have crossed over from pigs to humans.
Yet farmers, slaughter-house workers, and even those who eat pork
have had regular contact with the newly discovered viruses for
generations, apparently without suffering harm.
The concern is that the viruses, if indeed they can activate in
humans, might spread from organ recipients to the general
population.
Platt, who is based in Durham, N.C., says, "Obviously, we
don't want to undertake something that is dangerous."
Testing to see whether the viruses live in humans doesn't require
organ transplants, however. Platt says the first step should be
to examine whether the DNA of people who regularly work with pigs
also contain the genetic code of the viruses.
If the viruses are absent, or are present in apparently healthy
people, real-life infection may not be taking place.
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Copyright 1997 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
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