Abstract
In the mid 1990s an emerging disease characterised by the development of proliferative lesions around the face of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) was observed. A multi-disciplinary approach was adopted to define the condition. Histopathological and transmission electron microscopic examination combined with immunohistochemistry help define Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) as a neoplastic condition of cells of neuroendocrine origin. Cytogenetic analysis of neoplastic tissue revealed it to be markedly different from normal devil tissue and having a consistent karyotype across all tumours examined. Combined with evidence for Major histocompatability (MHC) gene analysis there is significant evidence to confirm the tumour is a transmissible neoplasm.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all team members of the DFTD research group within DPIW for their assistance as well as those in the AHL, DPIW Tasmania and AAHL and TFT, CSIRO Geelong, who have contributed to diagnostic results. Sections of the work were undertaken under DPIW AEC Certificate # 33/2004-05 and 33/2005-06.
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Pyecroft, S.B., Pearse, AM., Loh, R. et al. Towards a Case Definition for Devil Facial Tumour Disease: What Is It?. EcoHealth 4, 346–351 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-007-0126-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-007-0126-0