The Tazmanian Devil's Cancer

[science_spot]

It has been a few years since cancer was first detected in Australia's wild Tazmanian Devils.  As more individuals become affected by this disease, researchers continue to work toward a cure for it before it drives the species to extinction.

Here is what a young healthy devil looks like, followed by two pictures of individuals with facial tumors.  It is easy to see how the tumor would affect their survival, based on eyesight and feeding problems.

Picture from the University of Bristol

 

Picture from Natureworld

 

Picture from reuters

 

The Tasmanian devil now lives only on the Australian island of Tasmania. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world (about the size of a small dog).  They hunt and scavenge, feed voraciously, and have a loud annoying screech.  They are nocturnal animals.  Tazmanian Devils are icons in Australia, although they have not been native to the mainland in many many years.

The cancer that has been threatening the animals since 1996 is called Devil Facial Tumor Disease.  It is a parasitic cancer, meaning it is caused by a biological agent that is transmissible.  The disease quickly spread through up to 50% of the population in Tasmania, causing 100% mortality in about 18 months.  When an individual contracts the diease, it starts as small lumps around the mouth.  Some after, tthey form large tumors around the mouth and eyes; cancer cells also spread to other parts of the body.  The facial tumors interfere with eyesight and feeding, so often the affected animals starve to death.

It is now known that the disease is NOT caused by a virus, but rather the cancer cells themselves can transmit the cancer to other individuals through direct contact during mating and shared feeding.  There is only one other form of cancer (in dogs) that is known to be transmissible.  Cancer cells from multiple individuals show the same chromosomal rearrangements.  So far three partially resistant females have been found, which raises hope for a method to stop this disease before it wipes out the whole population.  However, multiple strains of the cancer cells have been identified, which indicates they cells are mutating, and may become more virulent and possibly attack other species in the future.

In addition to medical research on the disease, Australia has been taking measures to save the devils from extinction, if they cannot save affected indiviuals.  They have been culling affected individuals, with some success in slowing the spread of DFTD.  They also removed 14 unaffected indivuals from the population and have them in a zoo on the mainland, apart from the wild population. Read more about their management strategies in a document written by Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.

What do you think is going to happen to the Tasmanian Devil? 

 

Tonya

AKA sunmoonstars

The Science Spot

[Momforhealth]

May. 20, 2009 at 1:38 PM

 Is it something they are eating or in the environment? I pray they can find what is causing this and help them.  They are really cute healthy.

[MythicMMM]

May. 20, 2009 at 1:45 PM

I think that like everything, one day extinction will come.

[evwsquared]

May. 20, 2009 at 2:19 PM

Now, on top of paying attention to the plight of the bees and bats, I'm going to be worrying about the Tasmanian Devils!

[science_spot]

May. 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM

evw - I have been worrying about them for a few years.  I hate to think this cannot be stopped!!

Momforhealth - they know the cancer cells are transmissible and that they are causing the disease.  They just don't know how to stop it.  :(

(Original Poster)

[aenima49]

May. 20, 2009 at 5:21 PM

OMG how sad!

[arthistmom]

May. 20, 2009 at 9:48 PM

However, multiple strains of the cancer cells have been identified, which indicates they cells are mutating, and may become more virulent and possibly attack other species in the future.

This can't possibly be good. Poor,poor  devils! :( (We just lost our beloved cat to cancer so this was probably not a good journal for me to read.)

[LadySaphira]

Mar. 23, 2010 at 12:37 PM

aww poor things!