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New research paper
A team of researchers from the University of Tasmania and the Department of Primary Industries and Water, Tasmania, has recently published an article investigating the unique characteristics of the Tasmanian devil's immune system.
The team examined white blood cell counts, the ability of white blood cells to consume foreign bodies and the proliferation of white blood cells through cell division.
They found "no significant difference between males and females, adults and juveniles or between normal and diseased animals, suggesting that transmission of DFTD is not a consequence of a severely impaired immune system".
In conclusion, the fact that all Tasmanian devils' white blood cells (whether from diseased or healthy animals, males or females, adults or juveniles) required strong stimulation for activation suggests that all devils are likely to be susceptible to DFTD.
Article abstract at Science Direct
Posted by: admin on 17 Oct 2007 05:42 AM.
Updated by: admin on 17 Oct 2007 05:42 AM
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