Devil Facial Tumor Disease

Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is an emergent transmissible cancer exclusive to Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and threatening the species with extinction in the wild. Research on DFTD began 10 years ago, when nothing was known about the tumor and little about the devils. The depth of kn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary pathology 2016-07, Vol.53 (4), p.726-736
Main Authors: Pye, R. J., Woods, G. M., Kreiss, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological Evolution
Conservation of Natural Resources
Facial Neoplasms - epidemiology
Facial Neoplasms - pathology
Facial Neoplasms - veterinary
Genetic Variation
Geography
Immunity, Cellular
Immunity, Humoral
Marsupialia - genetics
Marsupialia - immunology
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Summary:Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is an emergent transmissible cancer exclusive to Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and threatening the species with extinction in the wild. Research on DFTD began 10 years ago, when nothing was known about the tumor and little about the devils. The depth of knowledge gained since then is impressive, with research having addressed significant aspects of the disease and the devils’ responses to it. These include the cause and pathogenesis of DFTD, the immune response of the devils and the immune evasion mechanisms of the tumor, the transmission patterns of DFTD, and the impacts of DFTD on the ecosystem. This review aims to collate this information and put it into the context of conservation strategies designed to mitigate the impacts of DFTD on the devil and the Tasmanian ecosystem.
ISSN:0300-9858
1544-2217
DOI:10.1177/0300985815616444