Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Second form of contagious cancer found in Tasmanian devils
upi ^ | 12/30/2015 | Stephen Feller

Posted on 12/30/2015 6:13:59 PM PST by BenLurkin

A contagious cancer, spread by biting, has decimated the population of Tasmanian devils since 1996. Researchers have now identified a second contagious cancer in eight devils, making them question how rare contagious cancer is, according to a new study.

In addition to attempting to breed devils identified as immune to the disease, scientists started working on a vaccine against Devil Facial Tumor Disease earlier this year -- which they said will not be thrown off by the discovery of a second form of the cancer.

The cancer, which researchers believe is spread by common biting behavior, causes tumors and lesions on the face and neck, and kills 100 percent of the animals it infects.

...

While researchers said existence of DFT1 and DFT2, as they are now referred to, makes them rethink the commonality of contagious cancers in nature, they will continue on with efforts to vaccinate as many devils as possible to save the species.

(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: australia; cancer; contagious; contagiouscancer; outbreak; tasmania; wildlife
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last
To: eartrumpet
Maybe instead of trying to cure the cancer, they should try to find out why all the devils are so angry.

from wiki:

...Females average four breeding seasons in their life and give birth to 20 to 30 live young after three weeks' gestation.

.... As there are only four nipples in the pouch, competition is fierce and few newborns survive.

30 pups, 4 nipples...gotta go viscious angry early to survive.

21 posted on 12/31/2015 6:18:52 AM PST by Covenantor (Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern - Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Covenantor

Is that 20 to 30 in each litter, or over their breeding life?

I’m guessing it means a total over their breeding life.


22 posted on 12/31/2015 6:23:42 AM PST by Ditter (God Bless Texas!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Ditter
nope....that's each litter.

They are the only carnivorous marsupials and the little monsters are REALLY little at birth....and weigh around 0.20 g (0.0071 oz) at birth.

Five of them weigh about as much as...

a single dollar bill.

23 posted on 12/31/2015 6:34:06 AM PST by Covenantor (Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern - Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Covenantor

They sound like small monsters, let’s just let the species die out.


24 posted on 12/31/2015 6:40:14 AM PST by Ditter (God Bless Texas!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Smokin' Joe

Certainly, the cancers caused by papillomaviruses are well-known. Several other viruses are associated with cancers, as well.

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/infectiousagents/infectiousagentsandcancer/infectious-agents-and-cancer-viruses


25 posted on 12/31/2015 7:10:39 AM PST by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin; Fred Nerks; SkyDancer

DAYUM!

I’m thinking a tumor-causing virus carried in the saliva.


26 posted on 12/31/2015 7:25:02 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Terrorism, the thing that shall not be named by the MSM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PAR35

My cancer — cancer free since 1988, by the way — isn’t contagious, as far as I know. However, I’ve been banned from donating blood for life.

As an aside, I don’t see groups of cancer survivors running around, insisting that they be able to donate blood, unlike the homosexual activists. I’m guessing that’s because, like me, most would be mortified if somebody developed cancer from a survivor transfusion.


27 posted on 12/31/2015 7:28:58 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Terrorism, the thing that shall not be named by the MSM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; Ditter

http://www.britannica.com/animal/Tasmanian-devil

Tasmanian devils are related to quolls (catlike Australian marsupials, also called native cats); both are classified in the family Dasyuridae. The teeth and jaws of Tasmanian devils are in many respects developed like those of a hyena. The pouch, when relaxed, opens backward, but, when the muscles are contracted to close it, the opening is central. During the breeding season, 20 or more eggs may be released, but most of these fail to develop. In most cases just four young are produced after a gestation period of about three weeks; these remain in the pouch for about five months. Overall, female offspring outnumber males about two to one...

...The Tasmanian devil’s immune system does not recognize the cancer cells as foreign and therefore does not attempt to kill them.


28 posted on 12/31/2015 7:57:37 PM PST by Fred Nerks (FAIR DINKUM!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson