scholarly journals Devil women

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Samantha Fox ◽  
Carolyn J. Hogg ◽  
Catherine E. Grueber ◽  
Katherine Belov
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Common Goal ◽  
Personal Stories ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Risk Of Extinction ◽  
Carnivorous Marsupial ◽  
The Devil

The Tasmanian devil, an iconic carnivorous marsupial, is at risk of extinction due to a contagious cancer called devil facial tumour disease. Saving any species from extinction requires strong partnerships between government agencies, zoo bodies and academia. The Devil Tools & Tech project brought these groups together under a single banner to achieve a common goal. The project has strong leadership from women. Here we tell our personal stories as to how we came to be involved in saving the devil and emphasise the importance of strong networks for women to reach their full potential.

Marsupial chromosomics: bridging the gap between genomes and chromosomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine E. Deakin ◽  
Sally Potter
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Genome Assembly ◽  
Genome Architecture ◽  
Sequence Information ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Sequencing Technology ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Chromosome Level

Marsupials have unique features that make them particularly interesting to study, and sequencing of marsupial genomes is helping to understand their evolution. A decade ago, it was a huge feat to sequence the first marsupial genome. Now, the advances in sequencing technology have made the sequencing of many more marsupial genomes possible. However, the DNA sequence is only one component of the structures it is packaged into: chromosomes. Knowing the arrangement of the DNA sequence on each chromosome is essential for a genome assembly to be used to its full potential. The importance of combining sequence information with cytogenetics has previously been demonstrated for rapidly evolving regions of the genome, such as the sex chromosomes, as well as for reconstructing the ancestral marsupial karyotype and understanding the chromosome rearrangements involved in the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease. Despite the recent advances in sequencing technology assisting in genome assembly, physical anchoring of the sequence to chromosomes is required to achieve a chromosome-level assembly. Once chromosome-level assemblies are achieved for more marsupials, we will be able to investigate changes in the packaging and interactions between chromosomes to gain an understanding of the role genome architecture has played during marsupial evolution.

scholarly journals Relict or reintroduction? Genetic population assignment of three Tasmanian devils ( Sarcophilus harrisii ) recovered on mainland Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 170053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren C. White ◽  
Jeremy J. Austin
Keyword(s):  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Genetic Population ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Mainland Population ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Devil ◽  
Disease Free ◽  
Sarcophilus Harrisii

Today, the Tasmanian devil ( Sarcophilus harrisii ) is found only on the island of Tasmania, despite once being widespread across mainland Australia. While the devil is thought to have become extinct on the mainland approximately 3000 years ago, three specimens were collected in Victoria (south-eastern Australia) between 1912 and 1991, raising the possibility that a relict mainland population survived in the area. Alternatively, these devils may have escaped captivity or were deliberately released after being transported from Tasmania, a practice that has been strictly controlled since the onset of devil facial tumour disease in the early 1990s. Such quarantine regimes are important to protect disease-free, ‘insurance populations’ in zoos on the mainland. To test whether the three Victorian devils were members of a relict mainland population or had been recently transported from Tasmania we identified seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the mitochondrial genome that can distinguish between Tasmanian and ancient mainland populations. The three Victorian devil specimens have the same seven SNPs diagnostic of modern Tasmanian devils, confirming that they were most likely transported from Tasmania and do not represent a remnant population of mainland devils.

scholarly journals Characterisation of the faecal virome of captive and wild Tasmanian devils using virus-like particles metagenomics and meta-transcriptomics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowena Chong ◽  
Mang Shi ◽  
Catherine E Grueber ◽  
Edward C Holmes ◽  
Carolyn Hogg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Dna Viruses ◽  
Virus Like Particle ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Carnivorous Marsupial

AbstractBackgroundThe Tasmanian devil is an endangered carnivorous marsupial threatened by devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). While research on DFTD has been extensive, little is known about the viruses present in devils, and whether any of these are of potential conservation relevance for this endangered species.MethodsUsing both metagenomics based on virus-like particle (VLP) enrichment and sequence-independent amplification (VLP metagenomics), and meta-transcriptomics based on bulk RNA sequencing, we characterised and compared the faecal viromes of captive and wild Tasmanian devils.ResultsA total of 54 devil faecal samples collected from captive (n = 2) and wild (n = 4) populations were processed for virome characterisation using both approaches. We detected many novel, highly divergent viruses, including vertebrate viruses, bacteriophage and other dietary associated plant and insect viruses. In total, 18 new vertebrate viruses, including novel sapelovirus, astroviruses, bocaviruses, papillomaviruses and gammaherpesvirus were identified, as well as known mammalian pathogens including rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2). Captive devils showed significantly lower levels of viral diversity than wild devils. Comparison of the two methodological approaches revealed substantial differences in the number and types of viruses detected, with meta-transcriptomics mainly identifying RNA viruses, and VLP metagenomics largely identifying DNA viruses.ConclusionThis study has greatly expanded our knowledge of eukaryotic viruses in the Tasmanian devil and provides important baseline information that will contribute to the conservation and captive management of this endangered species. In addition, our results showed that a combination of VLP metagenomics and meta-transcriptomics may be a more comprehensive approach to virome characterisation than either method alone.

scholarly journals Blood Parasites in Endangered Wildlife-Trypanosomes Discovered during a Survey of Haemoprotozoa from the Tasmanian Devil

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 873
Author(s):  
Siobhon L. Egan ◽  
Manuel Ruiz-Aravena ◽  
Jill M. Austen ◽  
Xavier Barton ◽  
Sebastien Comte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Transmissible Cancer ◽  
Carnivorous Marsupial ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Single Blood Sample

The impact of emerging infectious diseases is increasingly recognised as a major threat to wildlife. Wild populations of the endangered Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, are experiencing devastating losses from a novel transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD); however, despite the rapid decline of this species, there is currently no information on the presence of haemoprotozoan parasites. In the present study, 95 Tasmanian devil blood samples were collected from four populations in Tasmania, Australia, which underwent molecular screening to detect four major groups of haemoprotozoa: (i) trypanosomes, (ii) piroplasms, (iii) Hepatozoon, and (iv) haemosporidia. Sequence results revealed Trypanosoma infections in 32/95 individuals. Trypanosoma copemani was identified in 10 Tasmanian devils from three sites and a second Trypanosoma sp. was identified in 22 individuals that were grouped within the poorly described T. cyclops clade. A single blood sample was positive for Babesia sp., which most closely matched Babesia lohae. No other blood protozoan parasite DNA was detected. This study provides the first insight into haemoprotozoa from the Tasmanian devil and the first identification of Trypanosoma and Babesia in this carnivorous marsupial.

scholarly journals A metapopulation model of the spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease predicts the long term collapse of its host but not its extinction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Siska ◽  
Anders Eriksson ◽  
Bernhard Mehlig ◽  
Andrea Manica
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Metapopulation Model ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Transmissible Cancer ◽  
The Devil ◽  
Different Levels

AbstractThe Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a unique case of a transmissible cancer, had a devastating effect on its host, the Tasmanian Devil. Current estimates of its density are at roughly 20% of the pre-disease state, and single-population epidemiological models have predicted the likely extinction of the host. Here we take advantage of extensive surveys across Tasmania providing data on the spatial and temporal spread of DFTD, and investigate the dynamics of this host-pathogen system using a spatial metapopulation model. We first confirm a most likely origin of DFTD in the north-east corner of the island, and then use the inferred dynamics to predict the fate of the species. We find that our medium-term predictions match additional data not used for fitting, and that on the longterm, Tasmanian Devils are predicted to coexist with the tumour. The key process allowing persistence is the repeated reinvasion of extinct patches from neighbouring areas where the disease has flared up and died out, resulting in a dynamic equilibrium with different levels of spatial heterogeneity. However, this dynamic equilibrium is predicted to keep this apex predator at about 9 % of its original density, with possible dramatic effects on the Tasmanian ecosystem.

scholarly journals Low major histocompatibility complex diversity in the Tasmanian devil predates European settlement and may explain susceptibility to disease epidemics

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 20120900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina Morris ◽  
Jeremy J. Austin ◽  
Katherine Belov
Keyword(s):  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Low Genetic Diversity ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mhc Diversity ◽  
Disease Epidemics

The Tasmanian devil ( Sarcophilus harrisii ) is at risk of extinction owing to the emergence of a contagious cancer known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). The emergence and spread of DFTD has been linked to low genetic diversity in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We examined MHC diversity in historical and ancient devils to determine whether loss of diversity is recent or predates European settlement in Australia. Our results reveal no additional diversity in historical Tasmanian samples. Mainland devils had common modern variants plus six new variants that are highly similar to existing alleles. We conclude that low MHC diversity has been a feature of devil populations since at least the Mid-Holocene and could explain their tumultuous history of population crashes.

China's dhole population at risk of extinction

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6541) ◽  
pp. 472.1-472
Author(s):  
Xiaoyang Wu ◽  
Qinguo Wei ◽  
Sai Deni ◽  
Honghai Zhang
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Population At Risk ◽  
Risk Of Extinction

scholarly journals Cryopreservation of Brazilian orchid (Catasetum atratum Lindl.) seed at risk of extinction

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (07) ◽  
pp. 1051-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Beatryz Prenzier Suzuki ◽  
◽  
Thaís Cristina Morais Vidal ◽  
Guilherme Augusto Cito Alves ◽  
Douglas Bertoncelli Junior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Risk Of Extinction

The effects of season and devil facial tumour disease on the reproductive physiology of the male Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 999 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Keeley ◽  
P. D. McGreevy ◽  
J. K. O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Devil Facial Tumour Disease ◽  
Disease Free

Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is the cause of the rapid decline of wild Tasmanian devils. Female devils are seasonal breeders with births peaking during autumn (i.e. March) but the degree of reproductive seasonality in male devils is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the potential effects of season and DFTD on reproductive function in male devils (n = 55). Testicular (1.90 ± 0.23 g) and epididymal (0.90 ± 0.06 g) weights were maximal during autumn and spring (P < 0.05), whereas prostate (3.71 ± 0.74 g) and Cowper’s gland (0.68 ± 0.22; 0.52 ± 0.21 g) weights peaked during autumn (P < 0.001). The motility of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymides extracted post-mortem was similar (P > 0.05) across season and disease state (31.5 ± 13.1% total motility). Testicular and epididymal weights were no different between animals displaying late or early-stage DTFD signs or disease-free animals (P > 0.1). The accessory sex glands were larger in late-stage DFTD animals than in animals with early-stage disease signs or which were disease-free (P < 0.01) but effects of season on this result can’t be excluded. Serum testosterone concentrations peaked during summer (0.25 ± 0.18 ng mL–1) but values were not different from the preceding and subsequent seasons (P > 0.05), nor influenced by disease stage (P > 0.1). Seasonal and DFTD-related changes in serum cortisol concentrations were not evident (P > 0.1). Male devil reproduction does not appear to be restricted by season nor inhibited by DFTD.

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