Language
Country/Area
No result found
Living in the shadow of death: What is the relationship between Tasmanian devil lifespan and DFTD?
On the island of Tasmania, Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are facing a deadly threat - devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). This non-virally transmitted cancer has been responsible for more than 80 percent of the devil population decline since it first appeared in 1986. The disease is mainly transmitted through bites between infected individuals, and is accompanied by exaggerated tumor signs, which makes the survival pressure of this interesting and unique animal even more severe.
DFTD tumors usually appear around the mouth, which can affect basic survival needs, such as eating.
The most common symptom of the disease is the development of soft tumors that can ulcerate and invade nearby organs. Affected demons typically die within just six months from organ failure, infection, or malnutrition. According to research, this type of cancer cells exhibits serious genetic abnormalities, the most obvious feature of which is the tetraploidy phenomenon of standard cells, which is equivalent to twice the genetic composition of normal cells. In addition, DFTD appears to have evolved from Schwann cells of a single individual, which provides a new research direction in molecular biology.
DFTD was first described in 1996 in Mount William National Park in Tasmania, and two different strains have emerged since then.
DFTD is mainly transmitted through biting, because when teeth come into direct contact with cancer cells, they can effectively spread pathogens. This puts otherwise healthy and strong adult demons at high risk of disease. Another route involves ingesting infected carcasses or sharing food, sometimes without warning. Because these creatures are active in social interactions, diseases are more likely to spread, forming a vicious cycle that harms the entire population.
As the impact of DFTD intensifies, the breeding habits of Tasmanian devils are beginning to change, affecting their ability to survive.
In the face of deteriorating habitat conditions, the Tasmanian government and several Australian academic institutions and zoos have launched a number of prevention and control efforts. The plan involves capturing infected devils, establishing insurance populations to maintain genetic diversity, and housing healthy devils in quarantine areas. As these measures have progressed, more than 500 devils are now under protection, and newer projects, such as the German Restocking Program, work to create new populations among healthy devils.
The development of a vaccine offers some hope for combating DFTD, but researchers have yet to find a suitable candidate.
Although in-depth studies on the transmission pathways and pathological mechanisms of DFTD have shown the dangers and spread of the disease, questions remain as to whether protective actions can reverse the deteriorating fate. Experts have also proposed rebuilding a healthy population through genetic diversity projects so that these demons can continue to survive in Tasmania's forest ecosystems in the future. However, as social ecology changes, it remains uncertain whether efforts to protect Tasmanian devils will usher in a new dawn.
Will DFTD push this species to the brink of extinction? When the forces of natural selection intersect with human conservation efforts, what will be the fate of the future?
