DFTD

DFTD, or Devil Facial Tumour Disease, is a transmissible cancer that affects the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). First identified in 1996 in western Tasmania, it is one of the few known natural cancers that can spread between individuals as an allograft. The disease spreads primarily through bites during social and mating interactions, with tumour cells transmitted from one devil to another.

The tumours usually develop on the face and mouth, causing swelling, ulceration, and difficulty feeding. Over time, the cancer can metastasize to regional lymph nodes and other organs, leading to severe weight loss and eventually death. Genetic analyses indicate the tumours are clonal cell lines derived from a devil’s own tissue, themselves immune-evasive and capable of surviving in a new host. Tasmanian devils have relatively low genetic diversity, particularly in immune system genes, which helps the transmissible tumours evade rejection, contributing to the disease’s spread and persistence. Two distinct lineages of DFTD have been identified, DFTD1 (the original lineage) and DFTD2 (a later emergence), underscoring the disease’s ongoing evolution within the population.

Impact and distribution have been severe: DFTD has caused substantial declines in many devil populations and has reshaped conservation planning for the species. Ongoing research seeks vaccines and therapies, as well as management strategies such as captive insurance populations, disease monitoring, and the protection of uninfected refuges. While some populations show signs of natural resistance or altered disease dynamics, DFTD remains a major threat to Tasmanian devil conservation.