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| Devil Facial Tumour Disease
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The Tasmanian devil is an integral part of our State with value as a tourism icon, in addition to their natural role in the landscape. Their value has been further heightened recently as it is believed they may be acting as a buffer to the establishment of foxes in Tasmania.
  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease is a term used to describe a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils which is characterised by the appearance of obvious facial cancers. The tumours or cancers are first noticed in and around the mouth as small lesions or lumps. These develop into large tumours around the face and neck and sometimes even in other parts of the body. Adults appear to be most affected by the disease - males the first affected, then females - although juveniles as young as one can also be infected. Badly affected devils may have many cancers throughout the body.
As the cancers develop in affected devils, they may become emaciated, particularly if the tumours interfere with teeth and feeding. Many females lose their young. Affected animals appear to die within six months of the lesions first appearing.
Map showing known distribution of DFTD in Tasmania: February 2008 | In 1996, Tasmanian devils were photographed in the north-east of the State with what appeared to be large facial tumours – characteristics consistent with what is now known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). By May 2008 the Devil Disease had spread to 63 locations across more than 60% of the State.
Across Tasmania, there has been a 64% decline in average sightings since the disease emerged. In the north-east region, where signs of DFTD were first reported, there has been a 95% decline (approximately) of average spotlighting sightings.
The proportion of animals displaying signs of the disease at any one site has reached up to 83% of trapped adults.
DFTD is extremely unusual as it is only one of three recorded cancers that can spread like a contagious disease. The cancer is passed from devil to devil through biting. The live tumour cells aren’t rejected by the animal’s immune system because of a lack of genetic diversity among Tasmanian devils.
For this reason, new cases continue to occur in areas where the disease had not previously been recorded. These sites include Lake Pedder, in the southwest, and approximately 30km west of Pencil Pine, near Mt Cattley.
Thankfully, as at May 2008, populations in the western third of the State appear to have remained healthy and viable.
But it is believed that DFTD will spread across the range of the species within three to 20 years. There is also a concern that if the devil population diminishes, while fox numbers increase, it may be difficult for the devils to ever recover.
See the Save the Tasmanian Devil website .
A research program, which has become known as the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, has been established to investigate the disease and identify management options.
Co-ordinated 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.
The program is focused on the key areas of:- Population monitoring - Gathering data in the field to clarify disease distribution and impacts, and to help determine conservation strategies.
- Disease diagnostics - A laboratory-based investigation of the disease itself, which includes defining the disease, exploring its transmission, the possible causes, and so on.
- Wild management - Establishing methods for managing the impact of the disease in the wild.
- Captive management – A captive breeding population with ‘founders’ taken from areas of the State where there hasn’t been any record of the disease.
To streamline management, a new high-level Steering Committee for the Project has been established. It is assisting the flow of information to the wide range of groups interested in the disease. The new structure consists of a Steering Committee (involving representatives of DPIW, University of Tasmania, Australian Wildlife Health Network and the Australian Government) and a Stakeholder Reference Group (including eco-tourism, farmers, wildlife park operators, RSPCA, Parks and Wildlife Service, veterinary and scientific representatives). Both of these groups are able to provide proper scrutiny to the program, and also to support and promote the work of the devil disease team. For more information see Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.
 To improve our knowledge of the disease, devil monitoring sites have been maintained across Tasmania. This data helps us understand the spread of the disease and its impact on wild populations.
Results as at May 2008 indicate that populations remain healthy and viable in the western third of the State. But with research indicating the disease is transmissible, new cases continue to occur in areas where the disease had not previously been recorded.
Monitoring is also continuing at various sites where the disease has been known for long periods. This will provide information on the long-term impacts of the disease and its persistence in populations.
In collaboration with scientists from CSIRO and Landcare Research (in New Zealand), the monitoring team is incorporating this information in predictive models of the devil population and disease changes, to identify key factors affecting these changes, and to guide the planning of disease control strategies in wild populations.
See what the Monitoring Team get up to
View a video (1 minute 29 seconds) showing members of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease monitoring team checking trap sites in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. The specially developed traps are checked on a daily basis and animals are carefully examined by veterinary officers for signs of the disease before being released back into the wild.
Wildlife biologist Nick Mooney appeared on ABC TV's New Inventors Program with the PVC poly-trap. | With necessity being the mother of invention, the on-going field work has delivered exciting innovations that help monitor devils.
Remote sensor cameras are being used as a monitoring tool, and are particularly valuable in hard-to-access areas. They’re also good to use in low-density devil populations, where the effectiveness of physical trapping is limited.
The new technology, developed by former DPIW Scientific Officer Jason Wiersma, consists of a digital camera triggered when an infra-red sensor picks up the movement of an animal. Devils are lured into the area by bait placed at the site in an impenetrable container.
Meanwhile the PVC poly-trap, developed for catching devils in the wild by DPIW’s Wildlife Biologist Nick Mooney, gained national praise when Nick appeared on ABC TV’s New Inventors program. His purpose-designed trap, which provides a less stressful environment for the temporarily-caged animals, was voted the People’s Choice Award.
In the laboratory, researchers have collected and examined blood, tissue and tumour samples from hundreds of devils to build up a detailed knowledge bank on the disease. The aim is to identify the origin of the cancer cells, as this can give clues to the cause. In collaboration with Murdoch University, the results of their work into the origin of the tumour cells were published in the November 2006 edition of Veterinary Pathology. Their research supports the hypothesis that the tumour cells are of neuroendocrine origin.
In the same edition of Veterinary Pathology, staff from DPIW also published a case definition of the disease.
Research by members of the team on the genetic make-up of the tumour cells was published in the international journal Nature. The research indicated that the method of transmission of the disease between animals was consistent with direct animal to animal transfer.
Leading wildlife mathematical ecologist, Professor Hamish McCallum, was appointed as Senior Scientist with the project. Formerly from the University of Queensland, Professor McCallum commenced at the University of Tasmania in October 2006. A leader in the field of wildlife epidemiology, his role includes integrating the many lines of research into the disease that are occurring at a range of institutions.
For the latest research findings and a full list of recent and significant scientific papers visit: www.tassiedevil.com.au and the Tasmanian Devil Information Database.
 Under the supervision of Dr Menna Jones, DPIW Scientific Officers are continuing with the trial on the Forestier-Tasman Peninsula to suppress the spread of the Tasmanian devil disease. The Tasman Peninsula was chosen because its physical geography minimises the entry and exit of animals, offering an opportunity to create a disease-free region.
Experiments are continuing to see if it is possible to modify the Dunalley Bridge, over the Denison Canal, to prevent diseased devils from entering the peninsula. Trials of the various cattlegrid-like structures have been carried out at a local wildlife park. These will help to determine the best shape and spacing for the grid, to deter devils while still supporting heavy traffic. Possible additional structures to include on the bridge are water jets, bright spotlights at devil eye level and barking dog noises, all triggered by a sensor system set to devil height.
An interesting part of the work for these Scientific Officers has been getting to know the Peninsula’s devils. Each devil has its own definite markings, scars and personality. One such beauty is old Schmooz. He’s a three year old male who was first caught in 2004 and has been trapped again repeatedly. He’s big and snuggly when handled gently and he always seems to be sleeping with his legs in the air when the door to the trap is lifted.
A total of 63 juvenile Tasmanian devils were collected from 11 different sites in western Tasmania over the first few months of 2008, further boosting our captive insurance population.
These 'Project Ark' devils could play an important role, if ever needed, in helping to re-establish healthy wild populations in Tasmania. Already 73 Tasmanian devils have been sent to mainland wildlife parks, where they’re happily breeding, far away from the threat of DFTD.
As at May 2008, the prognosis is that wild devils may be extinct within three to 20 years.
Taking advice from the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA), the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program has determined that we need around 500 breeding devils to maintain the genetic diversity of the species over a period of 10 to 20 years.
A total of 330 individuals were trapped in the latest intake, but only the 'best of the best' were included in the insurance population. The focus has been on recently-weaned devils, around one year old, and without signs of biting or fighting. Research shows DFTD is less common in young devils, and, as the timing of the intake is before the main devil dispersal period, these devils are much less likely to have wandered in from a diseased area.
To date, there has been very strong evidence that DFTD has not spread further west than the Cradle Mountain area (more precisely, West Pencil Pine, 20km north-west of Cradle Mountain). Throughout October and December 2007, monitoring teams carried out nine trapping trips in the 'boundary zone' (between 25 – 50km from the known front), and caught 201 devils. All were free of DFTD symptoms, giving us confidence that devils taken beyond this area have a very low risk of having DFTD.
Trapping of insurance devils was then planned at least 50km further west of the known front, just to be cautious.
Sightings of diseased Tasmanian devils, particularly in areas thought to be disease-free, can be reported on the Devil Disease Hotline: Ph: 6233 2006. Messages taken after business hours, and at weekends, will be responded to the same day (for emergencies), or the next business day (for general sightings).
Reports of sightings should include details on the location, contact details (including a phone number) and the condition of the animal – although you should never touch devils, under any circumstances. They might be diseased, even if you can't see tumours.
The Tasmanian Devil Appeal, launched in late 2003, assists with vital research into the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease.
You can: The Tasmanian Devil appeal is administered under the auspices of the University of Tasmania Foundation, which nominates and allocates a number of scholarships and grants biannually through the Tasmanian Wildlife Research Advisory Committee (TWRAC).
All appeal funds raised support key research areas approved by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease Steering Committee, which was formed after the October 2005 workshop of scientists and animal health experts from institutions and organisations throughout Australia. Donations to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal over $2 dollars are tax deductible in Australia.
Visit www.tassiedevil.com.au or phone the University of Tasmania Foundation on 03 6226 2053 to find out more about the Tasmanian Devil Appeal and other ways you can donate to help save the Tasmanian Devil.
Do you have an interest in working outdoors? Do you want to see our unique wildlife? Then volunteering with the DFTD Team may be for you. More information on volunteering.
Contact: Save the Tasmanian Devil Program134 Macquarie Street
PO Box 44
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 2006
Fax: 03 6233 3477
Email: DevilDisease.Enquiries@dpiw.tas.gov.au
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