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© 2019. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases are rising globally and understanding host-pathogen interactions during the initial stages of disease emergence is essential for assessing potential evolutionary dynamics and designing novel management strategies. Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are endangered due to a transmissible cancer—devil facial tumour disease (DFTD)—that since its emergence in the 1990s, has affected most populations throughout Tasmania. Recent studies suggest that devils are adapting to the DFTD epidemic and that disease-induced extinction is unlikely. However, in 2014, a second and independently evolved transmissible cancer—devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2)—was discovered at the d’Entrecasteaux peninsula, in south-east Tasmania, suggesting that the species is prone to transmissible cancers. To date, there is little information about the distribution, epidemiology and effects of DFT2 and its interaction with DFTD. Here, we use data from monitoring surveys and roadkills found within and adjacent to the d’Entrecasteaux peninsula to determine the distribution of both cancers and to compare their epidemiological patterns. Since 2012, a total of 51 DFTD tumours have been confirmed among 26 individuals inside the peninsula and its surroundings, while 40 DFT2 tumours have been confirmed among 23 individuals, and two individuals co-infected with both tumours. All devils with DFT2 were found within the d’Entrecasteaux peninsula, suggesting that this new transmissible cancer is geographically confined to this area. We found significant differences in tumour bodily location in DFTD and DFT2, with non-facial tumours more commonly found in DFT2. There was a significant sex bias in DFT2, with most cases reported in males, suggesting that since DFT2 originated from a male host, females might be less susceptible to this cancer. We discuss the implications of our results for understanding the epidemiological and evolutionary interactions of these two contemporary transmissible cancers and evaluating the effectiveness of potential management strategies.

Details

Title
Tracing the rise of malignant cell lines: Distribution, epidemiology and evolutionary interactions of two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils
Author
James, Samantha 1 ; Jennings, Geordie 1 ; Kwon, Young Mi 2 ; Stammnitz, Maximilian 2 ; Fraik, Alexandra 3 ; Storfer, Andrew 3 ; Comte, Sebastien 1 ; Pemberton, David 4 ; Fox, Samantha 4 ; Brown, Bill 4 ; Pye, Ruth 5 ; Woods, Gregory 5 ; Lyons, Bruce 5 ; Hohenlohe, Paul A 6 ; McCallum, Hamish 7 ; Siddle, Hannah 8 ; Thomas, Frédéric 9   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ujvari, Beata 10   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Murchison, Elizabeth P 2 ; Jones, Menna 1 ; Hamede, Rodrigo 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 
 Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK 
 School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA 
 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (DPIPWE), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 
 Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 
 Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA 
 School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia 
 Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK 
 Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Research on Cancer, Montpellier, France 
10  Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Deakin, Victoria, Australia 
Pages
1772-1780
Section
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Publication year
2019
Publication date
Oct 2019
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
e-ISSN
17524571
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2292908819
Copyright
© 2019. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.