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Home > Weeds, Pests & Diseases > Animal Diseases > Science of Devil Facial Tumour Disease

Science of Devil Facial Tumour Disease



The Story So Far
Research and Management
Collaborations
Latest Findings
Is DFTD related to Platypus Mucormycosis?
Save the Tasmanian Devil newsletters

The Story So Far

Tasmanian devil with DFTDDevil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) appears to be a new disease that is restricted to Tasmanian devils. No affected animals were detected among the 2000-plus devils trapped by six biologists between 1964 and 1995.

The first cases discovered were found in north-east Tasmania in 1996. As at December 2008, DFTD had been confirmed at 64 separate sites covering more than 60% of the State.

DFTD is a contagious cancer that is spread between individuals, most probably through biting. Due to a lack of genetic diversity among Tasmanian devils their bodies don’t recognise the cells as foreign so the cells aren’t rejected by the animal’s immune system.

Animals usually die within a few months of the cancer becoming visible. Tasmanian devils appear to succumb between two and three years of age, although some juveniles as young as one have also become infected. This is resulting in very young age-structured populations in which females have only one breeding event, whereas they would normally have three.

Populations in which DFTD has been observed for several years have declined by up to 95% (approximate, due to low sample size in recent years), with no evidence to date of either of the decline stopping or the prevalence of the disease decreasing.
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Research and Management

The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program has been established to investigate the disease and identify management options.

Coordinated by the Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW), it involves researchers and experts from a range of institutions, including University of Tasmania, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, Murdoch University, and wildlife parks and zoos (both local and interstate).

The program focuses on the key areas of:
  • population monitoring in the field
  • wild management
  • captive breeding programs, and
  • disease diagnostics (a laboratory-based investigation of the disease itself, including its definition, transmission, and causes).

Collaborations

Partnerships between the Department of Primary Industries and Water and research institutions across Australia have played an important role in furthering our knowledge of DFTD. They also provide access to a wide range of resources and facilities.

Current collaborations include:

Current researchOrganisationSubjectTopic
Greg WoodsMenzies Research InstituteImmunology and vaccine development
Alex KreissMenzies Research InstituteImmune response of devils
Kathy BelovUni. SydneyVet. Sci.MHC and the devil tumour
Steve MarvanekCSIRO, AdelaideGISSpatial modelling of devil density & DFTD
Dan TompkinsLandcare Res., Dunedin, NZEpidemiologyModelling DFTD dynamics
Alex HyattCSIRO, GeelongAAHLSearch for involvement of virus
Linfa WangCSIRO, GeelongAAHLDNA, preclinical diagnostic test
Shane RaidalMurdoch Univ.Vet. Sci.Histology of the tumour
Mandy O’HaraMurdoch Univ.Vet. Sci.Histology of the tumour
Rodrigo HamedeUni. TasmaniaZoology Interactions between devils (Ph. D.)
Shelly LachishUni. QueenslandZoologyChanges in diseased populations (Ph. D.)
Hannah BenderANU, CanberraBiol. Sci.Evolution of devil tumour chromosomes (Ph.D.)
Jenny Graves, Anne-Maree Pearse, Hannah BenderANU, DPIWChromosome painting DFTD
Greg Woods, Kathy Belov, Alex KreissMenzies Research Institute, DPIW, Uni. SydneyImmune response to tumour
Jeremy Austin, Kathy Belov, Menna Jones, Liz Murchison, Anne-Maree PearseUni. Adelaide, ANU, Uni. Sydney, Uni. Tasmania, DPIW, Zoos SAMolecular evolution in devils
Liz Murchison, Tony Papenfuss, Jenny Graves, Arthur Hsu, Kathy BelovANU, WEHI, Roche, CSHL, SangerTumour transcriptome
Kathy BelovUni. SydneyMHC marker development
Kathy Belov, Chris Amemiya, Jenny GravesUni. Sydney, ANU, DPIW, Beniroya (Seattle)Devil BAC library
Vanessa Hayes, Stephan Schuester, Webb MillerCCIA, Uni. NSW, PSU, RocheSequencing project
Anne-Maree Pearse, Kate Swift, Jenny Graves, Hannah Bender, Carol GreiderDPIW, ANU, Johns Hopkins, CSHLTelomeres
Greg Woods, Cesar TovarMenzies Research InstituteIdentification of tumour antigens
Greg Woods, Gabriella BrownMenzies Research InstituteCytotoxic T cell responses
Kathy BelovUni. SydneyMHC typing
Barry Brook, Chris Johnson, Jeremy AustinUni. Adelaide, James Cook Uni., Aust. MuseumsDevil and Thylacine genetics
Menna Jones, Shelly LachishUni. Tasmania, Uni. QueenslandDevil landscape genetics
Hannah SiddleUni. SydneyAntibodies for MHC
Jenny Graves, Janine DeakinANU, DPIWPhysical maps of normal devil and tumour strains
Tony Papenfuss, Kathy BelovUni. Sydney, WEHISpleen transcriptome
Chrstl DonnellyImperial College LondonModelling
Andrew StorferOregon StateLandscape genetics
Nick BeetonUni. TasmaniaModelling DFTD dynamics and management (Ph.D.)
Tracey HollingsUni. TasmaniaEcosystem impacts of devil decline (Ph.D.)
Anne NielsenUni. TasmaniaEffects of devil decline on prey behaviour (Hons)
Associated research
Heather HestermanUni. TasmaniaZoology Reproductive biology of devils (Ph. D.)
Menna JonesUni. TasmaniaZoology Genetics, ecology and biology of devils
Planned research
Michael BreadmoreUni. TasmaniaACROSSProteomics: search for diagnostic test
Emily HolderUni. TasmaniaACROSSProteomics: search for diagnostic test
Robert ShelleyUni. TasmaniaACROSSProteomics: search for diagnostic test
Previous research (Hons.)
Heidi KolkertUni. TasmaniaZoology Reproduction of devil
Willow FarmerUni. TasmaniaZoologyGenetic differences among devils
Sarah BoumaUni. TasmaniaZoology Reproduction of devil
Candice ClarkUni. TasmaniaMedicineImmunology and vaccine development
Other research
Prof Konrad MullerUni. TasmaniaMedicineHistology of lymphatic system and origin of tumour cells
David ObendorfPrivate-Systemic pathology of devil lymphatics



Latest Findings

For the latest research findings and a full list of recent and significant scientific papers visit: www.tassiedevil.com.auYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement and the Tasmanian Devil Information DatabaseYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement.

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Is DFTD related to the Playpus Mucormycosis?

Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) and the Platypus Mucormycosis disease in Tasmania related or caused by the same thing?

No. While affected devils and platypuses can suffer from similar external symptoms, such as ugly ulcers or lesions, the diseases are caused by completely different mechanisms and occur on different parts of the body. Diseased Tasmanian devils suffer mainly from facial tumours, while the lesions on diseased platypuses are generally around the tail, back or back legs.

DFTD is an infectious cancer where malignant growths or tumors are caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division. It is contagious and thought to be spread by infected devils biting other devils. There is currently no evidence that the disease has spread to other species of wildlife or domestic animals.

Mucormycosis (the disease affecting Tasmanian platypus populations) is caused by the fungus Mucor amphibiorum. Currently little is known about how the fungus is transferred between platypuses or how it is spread. DFTD has had a devastating effect on Tasmanian devil populations throughout the State in the 13 years since it was first detected. However in the 25 years since Mucormycosis disease was first detected in Tasmania we still don’t know what impact it is having on platypus populations, or how far it has spread.
These questions are being addressed in another research program within DPIW. Read more about Mucormycosis and the platypus conservation program: Mucormycosis - Platypus Fungal Disease


Devil Facial Tumour Disease Newsletter

Save the Tasmanian Devil newsletters

The Save The Tasmanian Devil Program issues quarterly newslettersYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement.

Our newsletters keep you informed about the progress being made in response to Devil Facial Tumour Disease.



See also on this website:
Remote Sensor Camera Trial
Tasmanian Devil Information DatabaseYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement

Further Information

Contact: Save the Tasmanian Devil Program
134 Macquarie Street
PO Box 44
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 2006
Fax: 03 6233 3477
Email: DevilDisease.Enquiries@dpiw.tas.gov.au


Save the Tasmanian Devil website: www.tassiedevil.com.auYou are now leaving our site. DPIWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement

DPIW switchboard:  1300 368 550 (local call within Australia)


Tasmanian devil paw print Back to contents page
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Tasmania Online


Tasmania Online | Service Tasmania

This page - http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/JCOK-65X2Y6?open - was last published on 18 June 2009 by the Department of Primary Industries and Water. Questions concerning its content can be sent to DevilDisease Enquiries by using the feedback form, by mail to GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7001, or by telephone to 03 6233 2006.

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