Is the Devil Facial Tumour Disease and the Platypus Mucormycosis disease in Tasmania related or caused by the same thing?
No. Unfortunately two of Tasmanias most iconic mammal species are both currently afflicted with disease. While affected devils and platypus can suffer from similar external symptoms (both can develop ugly ulcers or lesions), the diseases are caused by completely different mechanisms, and occur on different parts of the body. Diseased devils suffer from facial tumours, while the lesions on diseased platypus are generally around the tail, back or back legs. The Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is an infectious cancer, where malignant growths or tumours are caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division. The devil facial tumour disease is contagious and thought to be spread by infected devils biting other devils. There is currently no evidence that the disease has spread to other species of wildlife or domestic animals including dogs or cats. Mucormycosis (the disease affecting Tasmanian platypus populations), is caused by the fungus Mucor amphibiorum. Currently little is known about
