User:Lndicicco12/sandbox

Devil facial tumor disease, DFTD, is a non-viral disease pertaining to Tasmanian Devils. DFTD is highly contagious and is proven to be fatal one hundred percent of the time. It is a relatively recent discovery; however, is threatening their extinction [1]. The extinction of Tasmanian Devils would largely affect the food system and ecosystem. A large percentage of Tasmanian Devils have already been wiped out by this disease. The cancer cells causing this disease result from uncontrolled cell division. Unlike most cases, with DFTD, clonally transmissible cancer is present. Whereas, in other cases, the hosts and cancer cells die together [1]. A way to limit the spread of the disease is to trap and remove the Tasmanian devils that are infected with DFTD. An experiment conducted, using this method, did not completely diminish the disease from their selected location; however, there was no natural decrease in Tasmanian devils [2].

Tasmanian Devils transmit DFTD when they bite each other. Healthy Tasmanian devils can be infected with this disease through cannibalistic acts [2]. Uncontrolled cell division occurs in the host’s immune system. However, when this occurs in Tasmanian Devils, it turns into a clonally transmissible cancer. Over time, tumors similar to these will evolve, but DFTD, specifically, has not evolved thus far [3]. Rather than blaming evolution for causing the Tasmanian devil’s immune system to be blind to the tumors, it has been blamed on genetic impoverishment [3]. The tumor cells resemble the normal cells in the Tasmanian devil.

A specific diagnostic test has to take place to diagnose DFTD because it is a neoplastic process in which Tasmanian devils are already defenseless. For this reason, the earlier cases were not taken to be different from neoplasia [4]. To diagnose DFTD, a biopsy has to be taken and tested. The biopsy has to be taken from a tumor suspected to be caused by DFTD. Currently, there is no way to test for DFTD before a tumor visibly develops, but there are new diagnostic markers in the process of being developed [2].

The initial signs of DFTD are lesions or lumps in the mouth. These lesions and lumps are what turn into tumors that develop primarily on the face and neck. In the worst-case scenarios, Tasmanian devils will develop tumors all over the body [5]. Efforts are being made to fight DFTD. It was discovered that the Tasmanian devil’s immune proteins resemble human immune proteins [6]. Another discovery was that there could be tumor cells in the blood, and this could help scientists understand how cancer takes control of organs [6]. Both of which could lead to a further discovery that combats DFTD.

The cancer cells are able to spread. Studies on microRNAs showed DFTD tumors would cluster with samples from the Tasmanian devil nervous system. In addition, the genes affected were similar to Schwann cells. It was hypothesized that a Schwann cell became cancerous and that was the cause of the entire disease [7]. Since the type of cell that causes these tumors was discovered, there could be a vaccine to help prevent the disease. In addition, there could be easier and more accurate diagnostic tests developed.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.