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What year was the Tasmanian devil diagnosed with a facial tumour disease?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a fatal condition which causes cancers around the face and head of Tasmanian Devils. It first appears as small lesions and lumps around the animal's mouth which grow quite quickly, inhibiting the Devil's ability to feed. They slowly starve to death, whilst their their bodily functions gradually break down. It spreads from animal to animal through them biting each other, and given that this is natural behaviour for Devils, it means that the disease can quickly spread through a population.
Whilst there is no actual cure for the disease yet, scientists have identified the genetic marker that causes Tasmanian devils to be predisposed to the disease, and this will go a long way towards finding a cure. Also, scientists have recently reported promising results in cancer cures from a drug manufactured from a certain type of brushwood in the North Queensland tropical rainforests. This has worked successfully in trials on cancerous tumours in cats, dogs and horses, and as well as being hoped to be a potential cure in human cancers, it is also hoped to be able to be used against DFTD.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) was first recorded and diagnosed in 1996 in Tasmanian devils at Mount William National Park in the far northeast of Tasmania.
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Is Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease harmful to humans?
The Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) poses no risk at all to humans or animals of any other species.
Benefits of Devil's Facial Tumour Disease?
There are no benefits to the Devil's Facial Tumour disease found in Tasmanian Devils. It is an insidious and dangerous disease which is gradually spreading through more and more of the Tasmanian Devil population.
How does the Tasmanian devil catch Devil Facial Tumour Disease?
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is spread through contact. Tasmanian devils are notorious for their territorial fighting, and the disease is spread very easily through biting and the transfer of saliva.
Can Tasmanian devils get sick?
Tasmanian devils can certainly get sick. Tasmanian Devils are threatened by a fatal form of cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) which is transmitted between Tasmanian devils by biting.
How is DFTD affecting the Tasmanian devil population?
DFTD, or Devil Facial Tumour Disease, has infected approximately 60% of Tasmanian devils on the island of Tasmania, resulting in the Tasmanian Devil being classified as "endangered".
Does the Tasmanian devil carry diseases?
Tasmanian devils do not carry any diseases which may be passed on to humans. However, they are at risk of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a fatal cancer which is transmitted to other Tasmanian devils through biting.
Who is helping in the fight of Devil facial tumour disease?
Scientists, conservation groups and the Tasmanian government are all helping in the fight against the Tasmanian Devil facial Tumour Disease. Scientists are breeding Tasmanian Devils in captivity to limit the spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). This disease is a great threat to Tasmanian devils living in the wild, affecting some two-thirds of the population. Conservation groups are helping to monitor Tasmanian devil populations, and to increase awareness of the plight of these animals. Conservation groups are invaluable for raising funds that can then go towards research. The Australian Government now has initiatives and programs set up to preserve the species. Tasmanian devils are being housed in captive breeding programmes, which should prevent the extinction of the marsupial, but not necessarily in the wild. In January 2010, a team of international scientists pinpointed the genetic marker that predisposes Tasmanian devils towards this fatal disease. With this knowledge, there is now a better chance of a cure, which would also stop the disease decimating the wild Tasmanian devil population.
Is the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease contagious to other animals?
No. The DFTD (Devil Facial Tumour Disease) is spread by contact via saliva. As Tasmanian devils are territorial animals which fight over their meals, the disease spreads very easily. However, it cannot (as yet) cross into other species. It is not known what sparked off this disease. Tasmanian Devils seem to be particularly vulnerable to this disease because of their genetic makeup: they have particularly low levels of genetic diversity and a chromosomal mutation which is unique among carnivorous mammals. It is hoped that, by studying this genetic makeup, scientists will be able to develop a vaccine and/or cure.
What is being done to save Tasmanian devils from being endangered?
One of the main threats to the Tasmanian devil is the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Scientists are breeding Tasmanian Devils in captivity to limit the spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). This disease is a great threat to Tasmanian devils living in the wild, affecting some two-thirds of the population. The Australian Government now has initiatives and programs set up to preserve the species. Tasmanian devils are being housed in captive breeding programmes, which should prevent the extinction of the marsupial, but not necessarily in the wild. In January 2010, a team of international scientists pinpointed the genetic marker that predisposes Tasmanian devils towards this fatal disease. With this knowledge, there is now a better chance of a cure, which would also stop the disease decimating the wild Tasmanian devil population.
Do Tasmanian devils get along with other Tasmanian devils?
Tasmanian devils are solitary creatures and do not socialise with others of their species except for the purpose of reproduction. They are very territorial, however, and will fight over food. One of the reasons the Devil Facial Tumour Disease is such a problem is that it is transmitted by the Tasmanian devils biting each other.
Why isn't anything being done about the Tasmanian devil?
On the contrary: a great deal is being done to try and help the Tasmanian devil. One of the main threats to the Tasmanian devil is the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Scientists are breeding Tasmanian Devils in captivity to limit the spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). This disease is a great threat to Tasmanian devils living in the wild, affecting some two-thirds of the population. The Australian Government now has initiatives and programs set up to preserve the species. Tasmanian devils are being housed in captive breeding programmes, which should prevent the extinction of the marsupial, but not necessarily in the wild. In January 2010, a team of international scientists pinpointed the genetic marker that predisposes Tasmanian devils towards this fatal disease. With this knowledge, there is now a better chance of a cure, which would also stop the disease decimating the wild Tasmanian devil population.
What impact can humans have on the Tasmanian devils environment?
European settlers use to hunt the Tasmanian Devil because they thought they ate their farm animals. But the main reason why they are endangered is because they are suffering from a cancer called DEVIL FACIAL TUMOUR DISEASE.
