Tasmanian devil Cedric could save his species

Apr 1 2008

Tasmanian devils, the world's largest marsupial carnivores, are a species facing extinction because of an ugly disfiguring cancer, known as devil facial tumour disease or DFTD.

Animals infected with DFTD become so engorged with tumours that they can no longer see or eat, and eventually starve to death.

The horrific disease has to date decimated 50 per cent of the population of Tasmanian devils and has now spread across most of Tasmania's east coast, to a variety of the species which are genetically very similar.

Scientists have however discovered one Tasmanian devil who appears to have immunity from the cancer.

Cedric, who was captured last year, is from the island's genetically different west coast population and his inbuilt immunity to the disease is being regarded as a major breakthrough in halting the disease's devastating spread.

DFTD first emerged on Tasmania's north-east coast more than a decade ago and it remains a mystery to scientists just how or why the disease first emerged.

But they are now hopeful that Tasmanian devils with Cedric's genetic pattern are resistant to the cancer or able to respond to a vaccine.

According to the Save the Tasmanian Devil project, the discovery is the most exciting thing that has happened in the programme to date and University of Tasmania immunology professor Greg Woods says the devils could be their own saviors.

Professor Woods believes there are possibly three genetic groups of devils in Tasmania.

Last year the scientists injected Cedric and his half-brother Clinky with dead facial tumour disease cells, and while Clinky produced no anti-bodies, Cedric did.

Two months ago the scientists injected the two animals with infected live cells and they expect Clinky to contract the disease while Cedric, with his different genes, is not expected to.

This would indicate that devils with Cedric's genetic make-up are resistant to the cancer, or capable of responding to a vaccine.

If this proves to be the case and Cedric remains resistant to the disease, he will then form the basis of a breeding programme to distribute disease-detecting genes to a new generation of devils.

Scientists believe without such interventions the devils could be extinct within a decade or two.

Tasmanian Devils which are famous for their ferocity and blood-curdling nocturnal yells, feed mainly on carrion and transmit the cancer while fighting over food scraps and during mating.

The scientists will next try to find a wild devil with the same genetic make up as Cedric and inject it with a live tumour to see if it is naturally resistant.

The Hobart scientists are working in collaboration with scientists at Sydney University.