Xenotransplantation - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Xenotransplantation - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Xenotransplantation - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
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Animal c<strong>on</strong>cerns : principles<br />
C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong><br />
4.33 In the case of chimpanzees, which are an endangered species, str<strong>on</strong>g c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong>ist<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerns suggest that their use for xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> should be forbidden. While<br />
chimpanzees have been used to provide organs for xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> in the past,<br />
there is now an internati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>sensus within the xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> community<br />
that the use of chimpanzees for providing organs is unacceptable <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong><br />
grounds al<strong>on</strong>e.<br />
4.34 C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerns do not currently apply to babo<strong>on</strong>s, which are not endangered<br />
at present, and which are, in fact, regarded as a pest in many parts of the world.<br />
Might babo<strong>on</strong>s become endangered if they were to be used as a source of organs for<br />
xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong>? Capture of wild babo<strong>on</strong>s for use as a source of organs is<br />
unlikely because of the need to ensure that the animals used for xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong><br />
are free of disease (Chapter 6). Like all primates, however, babo<strong>on</strong>s breed slowly,<br />
with breeding females producing a maximum of <strong>on</strong>e offspring every 15 m<strong>on</strong>ths. 20<br />
Because of this slow rate of reproducti<strong>on</strong>, the current col<strong>on</strong>ies of babo<strong>on</strong>s would<br />
probably not be able to provide sufficient numbers with which to establish breeding<br />
col<strong>on</strong>ies of disease-free babo<strong>on</strong>s to supply organs for xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong>. It would<br />
be necessary to capture wild babo<strong>on</strong>s to augment these breeding col<strong>on</strong>ies.<br />
4.35 In c<strong>on</strong>trast to chimpanzees, babo<strong>on</strong>s are relatively easy to catch and transport. They<br />
also adapt well to captivity and breeding col<strong>on</strong>ies are not difficult to establish. With<br />
the unmet demand for organs for transplantati<strong>on</strong> in the US al<strong>on</strong>e estimated to be<br />
100,000 every year, 21 however, establishing breeding col<strong>on</strong>ies of babo<strong>on</strong>s to provide<br />
organs for transplantati<strong>on</strong> would require the capture of large numbers of animals.<br />
Hence, although babo<strong>on</strong>s are abundant at present, their use to provide organs for<br />
xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> might have a significant effect <strong>on</strong> their numbers. It should also<br />
be borne in mind that deforestati<strong>on</strong> is destroying the natural habitat of all primates.<br />
Babo<strong>on</strong>s, being tough and adaptable, can survive in other habitats, but large-scale<br />
capture for xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> would be <strong>on</strong>e more pressure. Moreover, it is possible<br />
that, if xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong> involving babo<strong>on</strong>s were seen to be successful, there would<br />
be renewed interest in attempts to use chimpanzees for xenotransplantati<strong>on</strong>. This<br />
might lead to increased pressure <strong>on</strong> the endangered chimpanzee populati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
20<br />
Whitney R A and Wickings E J (1987) Macaques and other old world simians, Chapter 40 of The UFAW<br />
Handbook <strong>on</strong> the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals Sixth Editi<strong>on</strong>. UK: L<strong>on</strong>gman Scientific &<br />
Technical.<br />
21<br />
From the belly of the beast. The Ec<strong>on</strong>omist, 21 October 1995, pp 137-9.<br />
49