title: Immunoglubolin dynamics and cancer prevalence in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii).
abstract: Immunoglobulins such as IgG and IgM have been shown to induce anti-tumour cytotoxic activity. In the present study we therefore explore total serum IgG and IgM expression dynamics in 23 known-aged Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) of which 9 where affected by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). DFTD is clonally transmissible cancer that has caused massive declines in devil numbers. Our analyses revealed that IgM and IgG expression levels as well as IgM/IgG ratios decreased with increasing devil age. Neither age, sex, IgM nor IgG expression levels affected devil DFTD status in our analyses. However, devils with increased IgM relative to IgG expression levels had significantly lower DFTD prevalence. Our results therefore suggest that IgM/IgG ratios may play an important role in determining devil susceptibility to DFTD. We consequently propose that our findings warrant further studies to elucidate the underpinning(s) of devil IgM/IgG ratios and DFTD status.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia.|Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ujvari
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamede
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.affiliation: Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Menna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belov
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.|School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Madsen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M