title: Hematologic and serum biochemical changes associated with Devil Facial Tumor Disease in Tasmanian Devils.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) is an infectious tumor causing significant population declines in wild Tasmanian Devils. While clinical assessment and pathology have been well reported for DFTD, there is a lack of information on hematologic and biochemical alterations associated with DFTD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to determine hematologic and serum biochemical variation in healthy, wounded, and DFTD-affected Tasmanian Devils.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from wild Tasmanian Devils at 5 sites in Tasmania. Hematology and clinical biochemistry variables were compared between clinically healthy, wounded, and DFTD-affected devils. Differences were also analyzed among stages of DFTD, including individuals pre- and postclinical signs developing, and between ulcerated and nonulcerated DFTD tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significantly increased counts in WBC, neutrophils, and platelets, and concentration of fibrinogen, as well as decreased counts in lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and HGB concentration were observed in DFTD-affected devils compared to healthy devils. Activities of ALP, ALT, and GLDH, concentrations of sodium, potassium and albumin, and sodium-to-potassium ratio and albumin-to-globulin ratio were significantly lower, and AST activity was significantly higher in animals with DFTD when compared to clinically healthy animals. No significant differences were found among stages of DFTD or ulcerated and nonulcerated tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences in hematology and clinical chemistry variables in devils with DFTD compared to healthy devils are nonspecific and reflective of acute phase response and inflammation, and anemia of chronic disease. Similar changes are observed with wounds but to a lesser extent.
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. sarah.peck@dpipwe.tas.gov.au.|Wildlife Management Branch, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Tas., Australia. sarah.peck@dpipwe.tas.gov.au.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Peck
authors: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas., Australia.
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Corkrey
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas., Australia.
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Hamede
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas., Australia.
authors: Menna
authors: M
authors: Jones
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Canfield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000097:blood*; D013648:Tasmania
keywords: Cancer; Tasmanian Devil; clinical pathology; wildlife