Can disease be transmitted from pigs to humans through islet transplantation?
A. There is no real-world evidence that pathogens, such as retroviruses, can be transmitted to humans through pig islet transplantation. In fact, evidence indicates that the risk of transmitting disease to humans by transplanted pig organs, particularly islets, should actually be less than the current risk associated with transplanting islets from deceased human donors. Humans have had extensive exposure to pig tissue without disease. Some examples of this include: pigs as a meat source, pig heart values, pig insulin, pig brain cell transplants for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, and pig skin transplants, to name a few.
