scholarly journals Transmission dynamics of Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease may lead to disease-induced extinction

Ecology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 3379-3392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamish McCallum ◽  
Menna Jones ◽  
Clare Hawkins ◽  
Rodrigo Hamede ◽  
Shelly Lachish ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease

An Agent-Based Model of the Spread of Devil Facial Tumor Disease in an Isolated Population of Tasmanian Devils

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Charles E. Knadler
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Isolated Population ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Disease Mechanism ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease

The Tasmanian devil population is being reduced in the wild at an alarming rate due to an epidemic, which is the result of an unusual disease mechanism. Infected animals “inject” cancer cells into other devils, which then clone the cells, developing tumors. These tumors are invariably fatal. Field observers have developed hypotheses that include a life- history change for the species. It is hypothesized that this change has the potential to improve the population’s survivability. An agent-based model of Tasmanian devils is used to evaluate these hypotheses. The model results suggest that the devils’ intra-gender aggression as well as their aggressive mating practices render the life-history change hypotheses’ correctness improbable.

scholarly journals Fecal Viral Diversity of Captive and Wild Tasmanian Devils Characterized Using Virion-Enriched Metagenomics and Metatranscriptomics

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowena Chong ◽  
Mang Shi ◽  
Catherine E. Grueber ◽  
Edward C. Holmes ◽  
Carolyn J. Hogg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus ◽  
Viral Diversity ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Dna Viruses ◽  
Viral Communities ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease

ABSTRACT The Tasmanian devil is an endangered carnivorous marsupial threatened by devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). While research on DFTD has been extensive, little is known about viruses in devils and whether any are of potential conservation relevance for this endangered species. Using both metagenomics based on virion enrichment and sequence-independent amplification (virion-enriched metagenomics) and metatranscriptomics based on bulk RNA sequencing, we characterized and compared the fecal viromes of captive and wild devils. A total of 54 fecal samples collected from two captive and four wild populations were processed for virome characterization using both approaches. In total, 24 novel marsupial-related viruses, comprising a sapelovirus, astroviruses, rotaviruses, picobirnaviruses, parvoviruses, papillomaviruses, polyomaviruses, and a gammaherpesvirus, were identified, as well as known mammalian pathogens such as rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2. Captive devils showed significantly lower viral diversity than wild devils. Comparison of the two virus discovery approaches revealed substantial differences in the number and types of viruses detected, with metatranscriptomics better suited for RNA viruses and virion-enriched metagenomics largely identifying more DNA viruses. Thus, the viral communities revealed by virion-enriched metagenomics and metatranscriptomics were not interchangeable and neither approach was able to detect all viruses present. An integrated approach using both virion-enriched metagenomics and metatranscriptomics constitutes a powerful tool for obtaining a complete overview of both the taxonomic and functional profiles of viral communities within a sample. IMPORTANCE The Tasmanian devil is an iconic Australian marsupial that has suffered an 80% population decline due to a contagious cancer, devil facial tumor disease, along with other threats. Until now, viral discovery in this species has been confined to one gammaherpesvirus (dasyurid herpesvirus 2 [DaHV-2]), for which captivity was identified as a significant risk factor. Our discovery of 24 novel marsupial-associated RNA and DNA viruses, and that viral diversity is lower in captive than in wild devils, has greatly expanded our knowledge of gut-associated viruses in devils and provides important baseline information that will contribute to the conservation and captive management of this endangered species. Our results also revealed that a combination of virion-enriched metagenomics and metatranscriptomics may be a more comprehensive approach for virome characterization than either method alone. Our results thus provide a springboard for continuous improvements in the way we study complex viral communities.

Abstract 5636: Restoration of tumor immunosurveillance in tasmanian devil facial tumor disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Orlova ◽  
Lindsay Kosack ◽  
Alexandra M. Popa ◽  
Csilla Viczenczova ◽  
Alexander Lercher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Tumor Immunosurveillance ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease

Doxorubicin and carboplatin trials in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) with Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease

2015 ◽  
Vol 206 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Phalen ◽  
Angela E. Frimberger ◽  
Sarah Peck ◽  
Stephen Pyecroft ◽  
Colette Harmsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease ◽  
Sarcophilus Harrisii

scholarly journals CANCER INCIDENCE IN WILD ANIMALS AND THE REJECTION OF PETO’S PARADOX THEORY

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorush Niknamian
Keyword(s):  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Paradox Theory ◽  
Cancer Agent ◽  
Infectious Cancer ◽  
Multicellular Organisms

Cancer affects all animals containing eukaryote cells. Less is known about the cancers that affect wild animals, since they move around and may not be easily observed for a long period of time. This review about cancers in wild animals contains useful data for the study of human cancers as well. Certain cancers in dinosaurs show that this metabolic disease is primitive and may have been around since the beginning of the multicellular organisms. This data also shows there has been some cancer types in naked mole rats and wild sharks as well. Nowadays, Tasmanian Devils are plagued by an infectious cancer known as Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). Since the emergence of the disease in 1996, the population has declined by more than 60 percent. This type of cancer has an allograft transmission. It seems earthworms contain an anti-cancer agent which could be of great interests in the treatment of cancer. In the discussion part of our review we have discussed how Peto’s Paradox theory of cancer is not true and we have mentioned many data of the cancer incidences in whales and elephants.

scholarly journals Telomere Length is a Susceptibility Marker for Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease

EcoHealth ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-291
Author(s):  
Lane E. Smith ◽  
Menna E. Jones ◽  
Rodrigo Hamede ◽  
Rosana Risques ◽  
Austin H. Patton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease

scholarly journals The Immunohistochemical Characterization of Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) in the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 896-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Loh ◽  
D. Hayes ◽  
A. Mahjoor ◽  
A. O'Hara ◽  
S. Pyecroft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Devil Facial Tumor Disease ◽  
Sarcophilus Harrisii
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