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The Tasmanian devil facial tumor is a contagious cancer that to a great extent threatens the life and existence of Tasmanian devil. The disease was first discovered in the early 1990s, when some researchers noticed that the faces of the devils had defects and were disfigured in the Northern part of Tasmania. The disease was transmitted from one animal to another one as they were fighting for food, or mating. These cancer or tumor cells are divided after transmission causing malignant cells growths (Brindley & Banfield 1961). The discussed illness spread steadily across this region and resulted in a great number of deaths, and therefore, necessary mitigation measures needed to be taken. It has now spread to the Northwest of the island and several deaths have been reported.
Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) grows and develops inside and around the mouth of these animals and makes it very difficult for them to feed. This fact leads to starvation and eventually to their death. The illness has now killed approximately 70% of these animals in Tasmanian Island (Lachish, Jones & McCallum 2007). If relevant measures are not taken to block and dispose of the disease, the animals of these species could go extinct within the next thirty years. However, many researchers have come out and have now initiated the research on the origin and causes of this fatal disease. It has now been discovered that diagnosis and vaccination against the DFTD is possible. According to the research results it has been noted that devil facial tumor disease initiated in the Schwann cells of the devil. They have also identified and established the disease genetic makers (Lachish, Jones & McCallum 2007). This has to a great extent helped the doctors differentiate between general cancer and facial tumor disease. The knowledge is, therefore, currently used by the doctors, as a stepping stone to their success in finding out the best and most efficient way to attack the disease.
The scientists have also discovered that the DFTD also spreads through physical contacts, as the animals mate and feed. This fact clearly indicates that reliable and applicable research study has been done and the treatment of the disease can now be initiated. Since the disease has led to death of many Tasmanian devils in the region, many research groups have come up with suggestions on how to control the illness. They suggest that, if the host population of the infected devils is dropped below the threshold, there is likelihood of saving the species, which is a popular animal in the island and in the entire continent of Australia. The researchers also suggest that wide spread of the disease depends on the population density, and therefore, elimination method of treatment is applicable and reliable (Pearse & Swift 2006).
Research shows that, devils population was very high ten years ago and this could have contributed to the steady spread of the DFTD. Thus, the disease has been concluded to be a population density-dependent one. Whether the disease depends on frequency or density, possible solutions need to be investigated to help curbing the disease which is a great threat to the animals. The only way to reach reliable and significant solutions is through field experiment. The density of the animals has currently reduced to 5% of the population that existed few years ago (McCallum & Dobson 1995).
There are many ways of treating this disease suggested by different doctors and researchers all over the world. One of the most preferred ways of treating or curbing the steady spread of the DFTD is through elimination. The researchers state that elimination of the infected devils from among those, which are not infected would help stop the spread of the disease. The recent field applications show that the reliability of this method is under 90% because there are some devils, which do not show the symptom of the disease initially. Tests need to be applied to every existing devil in the selected field to be able to define the infected ones. Restriction from mixing and interacting during the treatment and experiments in the field has to be applied as well. The method is said to be very involving and tiresome. At the same time it is very expensive, and the wildlife and government organizations have to contribute in the process to make it successful at the end.
To be able to isolate the infected devils from the healthy ones, statistical studies are very crucial in strategic planning of the application of relevant measures. Another proposed and applied effective way is culling all individuals in a given area. This will to a great extent help in the process of saving the species. There are other medications that are applied in this process such as vaccination of antibiotics, and pathogen fighting vaccines. However, natural methods like culling and isolation also need to be incorporated in the process for more reliability and effectiveness. Conclusively, application of the suggested and proposed ways of treating Tasmanian Devil Facial Disease can help in eliminating the disease and saving the species, which symbolizes power in the mentioned geographical region. This could also help us to minimize the infusion.
References
Brindley, DC & Banfield, WG 1961, A contagious tumor of the hamster, J Natl Cancer Inst, vol. 26, pp. 949957.
Lachish, S, Jones, M, & McCallum, H 2007, The impact of disease on the survival and population growth rate of the Tasmanian devil, Journal of Animal Ecology, vol.76(5), pp. 926936.
McCallum, H & Dobson, AP 1995, Detecting disease and parasite threats to ending red species and ecosystems, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 10, pp. 190194.
Pearse, AM &Swift, K 2006, Transmission of devil facial tumour disease an uncanny similarity in the karyotype of these malignant tumours means they could be infective, Nature, vol. 439, pp. 549-549.
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