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Devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) is a transmissible cancer clone endangering the Tasmanian devil. The expansion of DFT1 across Tasmania has been documented, but little is known of its evolutionary history. We analysed genomes of 648 DFT1 tumours collected throughout the disease range between 2003 and 2018. DFT1 diverged early into five clades, three spreading widely and two failing to persist. One clade has replaced others at several sites, and rates of DFT1 coinfection are high. DFT1 gradually accumulates copy number variants (CNVs), and its telomere lengths are short but constant. Recurrent CNVs reveal genes under positive selection, sites of genome instability, and repeated loss of a small derived chromosome. Cultured DFT1 cell lines have increased CNV frequency and undergo highly reproducible convergent evolution. Overall, DFT1 is a remarkably stable lineage whose genome illustrates how cancer cells adapt to diverse environments and persist in a parasitic niche.
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Neoplasias Faciales/veterinaria , Marsupiales/genética , Enfermedades de los Animales/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Animales/genética , Enfermedades de los Animales/transmisión , Animales , Variaciones en el Número de Copia de ADN , Evolución Molecular , Neoplasias Faciales/epidemiología , Neoplasias Faciales/genética , Femenino , Inestabilidad Genómica , Masculino , Filogenia , Tasmania/epidemiología , Acortamiento del Telómero/genética , Células Tumorales CultivadasRESUMEN
Contraception is increasingly used to manage breeding opportunities in conservation-dependent species. This study aimed to determine the efficacy, duration of effect, optimal dose and potential side effects of Suprelorin contraceptive implants in Tasmanian devils, for use in the conservation breeding program. In our pilot study, Suprelorin was found to effectively suppress oestrous cycles in female devils, yet caused a paradoxical increase in testosterone in males. Therefore, we focussed on females in further trials. Females received one (n=5), two (n=5) or no (n=5) Suprelorin implants, with quarterly gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) challenges used to test pituitary responsiveness over two breeding seasons. Both Suprelorin doses suppressed pituitary responsiveness for at least one breeding season, with a reduced effect in the second. There was a dose-response effect on duration rather than magnitude of effect, with high-dose devils remaining suppressed for longer than low-dose animals. There were no apparent negative effects on general health, yet captivity and contraception together may cause weight gain. Suprelorin contraceptive implants are now routinely used in the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program insurance metapopulation to meet the aims of maintaining genetic and behavioural integrity by controlling individual reproductive contributions in group housing situations.
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Cruzamiento/métodos , Anticonceptivos/farmacología , Ciclo Estral/efectos de los fármacos , Hipófisis/efectos de los fármacos , Reproducción/efectos de los fármacos , Pamoato de Triptorelina/análogos & derivados , Animales , Conservación de los Recursos Naturales , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Especies en Peligro de Extinción , Femenino , Masculino , Marsupiales , Testosterona/sangre , Pamoato de Triptorelina/farmacologíaRESUMEN
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has decreased by estimates of 80% in the past 20 yr due to the effects of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). In the process of creating a DFTD-free insurance population, the captive population and the number of institutions housing devils worldwide has increased tremendously. In order to provide the best husbandry and veterinary care for these captive animals, it is essential to know normal hematology and biochemistry values for the species. Baseline reference intervals (RIs) were determined for hematology and biochemistry variables for 170 healthy anesthetized captive Tasmanian devils and significant sex and age differences were determined. Higher relative neutrophil counts, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, and cholesterol were seen in males compared to females, whereas higher white cell counts (WBC) and lymphocyte counts (absolute and relative) were seen in females. Subadults have higher red blood cell counts, WBC, lymphocytes (absolute and relative), calcium and phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glucose, and albumin than adults; whereas, adults have higher relative neutrophils, relative eosinophils, mean corpuscular volume, MCH, platelets, total solids, total plasma proteins, globulins, and chloride than subadults. This study provides a comprehensive report of hematology and serum biochemistry RIs for healthy captive anesthetized Tasmanian devils and offers invaluable diagnostic information to care for the growing captive population of this endangered marsupial.
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Análisis Químico de la Sangre/veterinaria , Marsupiales/sangre , Anestesia , Animales , Glucemia , Colesterol/sangre , Combinación de Medicamentos , Electrólitos/sangre , Especies en Peligro de Extinción , Enzimas/sangre , Recuento de Eritrocitos/veterinaria , Femenino , Hematócrito/veterinaria , Hemoglobinas , Recuento de Leucocitos/veterinaria , Masculino , Minerales/sangre , Valores de ReferenciaRESUMEN
ABSTRACT: Sarcoptes scabiei mites and skin lesions consistent with severe sarcoptic mange were identified in a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and Bennett's wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus) from Tasmania, Australia. The devil and wallaby both had severe hyperkeratotic skin lesions. All stages of mite development were identified in the devil, suggesting parasite reproduction on the host. The devil was also affected by devil facial tumor disease and several other parasites. This expands the global host range of species susceptible to this panzootic mange disease.
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The emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a highly contagious cancer, is driving Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) to extinction. The cancer is a genetically and chromosomally stable clonal cell line which is transmitted by biting during social interactions. In the present study, we explore the Devil Facial Tumour (DFT) epigenome and the genes involved in DNA methylation homeostasis. We show that tumour cells have similar levels of methylation to peripheral nerves, the tissue from which DFTD originated. We did not observe any strain or region-specific epimutations. However, we revealed a significant increase in hypomethylation in DFT samples over time (p < 0.0001). We propose that loss of methylation is not because of a maintenance deficiency, as an upregulation of DNA methyltransferase 1 gene was observed in tumours compared with nerves (p < 0.005). Instead, we believe that loss of methylation is owing to active demethylation, supported by the temporal increase in MBD2 and MBD4 (p < 0.001). The implications of these changes on disease phenotypes need to be explored. Our work shows that DFTD should not be treated as a static entity, but rather as an evolving parasite with epigenetic plasticity. Understanding the role of epimutations in the evolution of this parasitic cancer will provide unique insights into the role of epigenetic plasticity in cancer evolution and progression in traditional cancers that arise and die with their hosts.
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Metilación de ADN , Epigénesis Genética , Neoplasias Faciales/veterinaria , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Marsupiales , Análisis del Polimorfismo de Longitud de Fragmentos Amplificados/veterinaria , Animales , Evolución Clonal , Especies en Peligro de Extinción , Cara/patología , Neoplasias Faciales/genética , Neoplasias Faciales/metabolismo , Homeostasis , Marsupiales/genética , Marsupiales/metabolismo , Especificidad de Órganos , Nervios Periféricos/metabolismo , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , TasmaniaRESUMEN
Pain management in palliative care (PC) is becoming more complex as patients survive longer with life-limiting illnesses and population-wide trends involving opioid misuse become more common in serious illness. Buprenorphine, a generally safe partial mu-opioid receptor agonist, has been shown to be effective for both pain management and opioid use disorder. It is critical that PC clinicians become comfortable with indications for its use, strategies for initiation while understanding risks and benefits. This article, written by a team of PC and addiction-trained specialists, including physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and a pharmacist, offers 10 tips to demystify buprenorphine use in serious illness.
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Buprenorfina , Enfermería de Cuidados Paliativos al Final de la Vida , Trastornos Relacionados con Opioides , Humanos , Buprenorfina/uso terapéutico , Cuidados Paliativos , Analgésicos Opioides/uso terapéutico , Trastornos Relacionados con Opioides/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
Tasmanian devils have spawned two transmissible cancer lineages, named devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) and devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2). We investigated the genetic diversity and evolution of these clones by analyzing 78 DFT1 and 41 DFT2 genomes relative to a newly assembled, chromosome-level reference. Time-resolved phylogenetic trees reveal that DFT1 first emerged in 1986 (1982 to 1989) and DFT2 in 2011 (2009 to 2012). Subclone analysis documents transmission of heterogeneous cell populations. DFT2 has faster mutation rates than DFT1 across all variant classes, including substitutions, indels, rearrangements, transposable element insertions, and copy number alterations, and we identify a hypermutated DFT1 lineage with defective DNA mismatch repair. Several loci show plausible evidence of positive selection in DFT1 or DFT2, including loss of chromosome Y and inactivation of MGA, but none are common to both cancers. This study reveals the parallel long-term evolution of two transmissible cancers inhabiting a common niche in Tasmanian devils.
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Evolución Molecular , Neoplasias Faciales , Marsupiales , Selección Genética , Animales , Neoplasias Faciales/clasificación , Neoplasias Faciales/genética , Neoplasias Faciales/veterinaria , Genoma , Marsupiales/genética , FilogeniaRESUMEN
Background: Clinicians often use metaphors to explain complex ideas. Metaphors also have the potential to reinforce unhelpful thinking regarding symptoms. We surveyed musculoskeletal specialists regarding use of metaphors in their daily practice and then assessed the contexts in which they are used, the themes of metaphors, and potential for reinforcement of common misconceptions (unhelpful thinking). Two primary research questions were posed: 1- What are the common characteristics of the medical metaphors used in patient-clinician communication by musculoskeletal specialists? And, 2- What percentage of medical metaphors used in patient-clinician communication have potential to induce unhelpful thinking and what are the characteristics of those metaphors? Methods: Eighty-one orthopedic and trauma specialists provided examples of metaphors they use in daily practice. Qualitative analysis of responses was performed through open coding of the data with the use of a constant-comparative technique involving several rounds of reading and rereading the data. Results: The 157 metaphors were categorized into 15 different themes. The most common themes were mechanical, objects, and sports and leisure. We also classified metaphors as addressing the natural history of the disease, treatment, mechanism, anatomy, or other. Thirty-five metaphors (22%) were identified as having the potential to reinforce unhelpful thinking. The most common purpose of these metaphors was for explaining the mechanism or natural history of the disease. Conclusion: Metaphors can either reinforce or reorient potentially unhealthy misconceptions. They can also reinforce despair and worry, or they can improve hope and sense of control. Orthopedic surgeons can be strategic and thoughtful in their use of metaphors, planning and practicing specific metaphors for optimal mental, social, and physical health.
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HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to report the rate of major complications in patients with geriatric olecranon fractures managed operatively with a locking plate. Secondary objectives included minor complications, as well as pain and range of motion at the final follow-up. We hypothesized that these patients have a low rate of complications as well as low pain and satisfactory elbow range of motion at the final follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of isolated geriatric olecranon fractures presenting from 2006 to 2019 was performed at a single level I trauma center. Inclusion criteria were ≥75 years of age, operative management with a locking plate, and clinic follow-up at least until evidence of radiographic union or a major complication. Exclusion criteria included nonoperative management, insufficient follow-up, and absence of locking plate in surgical technique. Variables examined included demographic information, Charleston comorbidity index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, living independence, gait assistance, mechanism of injury, open vs. closed fracture, Mayo radiographic classification, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen classification, time to surgery, implant type, presence of triceps offloading suture, length of postoperative immobilization, date of radiographic union, range of motion at the final follow-up, pain visual analog scale score at the final follow-up, major and minor complications, and return to the operative room. A major complication was defined as a return to the operative room for deep infection or loss of fixation (displacement of fracture >5 mm). A minor complication was defined as any other complication. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients ≥75 years of age with olecranon fractures were identified. Of these, 36 patients met inclusion criteria with an average follow-up of 23 weeks (range 5-207). The mean length of immobilization was 13 days (range 0-29 days). Thirty-two of 36 (88.8%) patients achieved radiographic evidence of union at an average of 8.9 weeks (range 5.3-24.1 weeks). There were 4 remaining patients who underwent secondary intervention before primary union representing an 11.1% major complication rate including 2 deep infections (5.6%) and 3 failures of fixation (8.3%). There were 7 minor complications in 5 of 36 (13.9%) patients. At the final follow-up, the average visual analog scale score was 2.6 (range 0-6), the average elbow arc of motion was 120° (range 70-147°), and mean pronation/supination was 85°/84° (range 45-90°/45-90°). CONCLUSION: Geriatric olecranon fractures are a challenging orthopedic problem with remaining controversy regarding ideal treatment. Despite advancement in geriatric fracture care, there is scant literature on the outcomes of locked plating technology in geriatric olecranon fractures. This study supports use of operative anatomic fixation with precontoured locked plates and early mobilization with an acceptable failure rate.
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The effect of potato tuber composition, frying time and temperature on acrylamide formation in potato chips was investigated and a mathematical model of the kinetics of acrylamide formation is provided. Moisture-temperature-time profiles were obtained for potato slices during frying to enable the determination of the 'effective' reaction time by identifying the critical moisture content (6% dwb) for acrylamide formation to commence and using dehydration curves to calculate subsequent frying time to finished product moisture content. The chemical kinetic model conformed to the following rate equation over a one hundred-fold range of acrylamide concentrations: d[acryl]dt=k1glucoseasn+k6[fructose][asn][TAA] where [TAA] represents total amino acid concentration. The timescale of the frying process meant that the chemical reactions were all in their initial rate phase. Kinetic parameters confirm that the fructose-dependent reaction (caramelization) contributes twice as much acrylamide as the reaction of glucose (Maillard reaction).
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Acrilamida/química , Culinaria , Modelos Químicos , Solanum tuberosum/química , Acrilamida/análisis , Calor , Cinética , Reacción de Maillard , Tubérculos de la Planta/químicaRESUMEN
As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, its psychological, emotional, and existential toll continues to grow and indeed may now rival the physical suffering caused by the illness. Patients, caregivers, and health-care workers are particularly at risk for trauma responses and would be well served by trauma-informed care practices to minimize both immediate and long-term psychological distress. Given the significant overlap between the core tenets of trauma-informed care and accepted guidelines for the provision of quality palliative care (PC), PC teams are particularly well poised to both incorporate such practices into routine care and to argue for their integration across health systems. We outline this intersection to highlight the uniquely powerful role PC teams can play to reduce the long-term psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Infecciones por Coronavirus/terapia , Cuidados Paliativos/métodos , Neumonía Viral/terapia , COVID-19 , Infecciones por Coronavirus/psicología , Humanos , Cuidados Paliativos/psicología , Pandemias , Grupo de Atención al Paciente , Neumonía Viral/psicología , Trauma Psicológico/etiología , Trauma Psicológico/terapiaRESUMEN
Ecological and evolutionary concepts have been widely adopted to understand host-pathogen dynamics, and more recently, integrated into wildlife disease management. Cancer is a ubiquitous disease that affects most metazoan species; however, the role of oncogenic phenomena in eco-evolutionary processes and its implications for wildlife management and conservation remains undeveloped. Despite the pervasive nature of cancer across taxa, our ability to detect its occurrence, progression and prevalence in wildlife populations is constrained due to logistic and diagnostic limitations, which suggests that most cancers in the wild are unreported and understudied. Nevertheless, an increasing number of virus-associated and directly transmissible cancers in terrestrial and aquatic environments have been detected. Furthermore, anthropogenic activities and sudden environmental changes are increasingly associated with cancer incidence in wildlife. This highlights the need to upscale surveillance efforts, collection of critical data and developing novel approaches for studying the emergence and evolution of cancers in the wild. Here, we discuss the relevance of malignant cells as important agents of selection and offer a holistic framework to understand the interplay of ecological, epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of cancer in wildlife. We use a directly transmissible cancer (devil facial tumour disease) as a model system to reveal the potential evolutionary dynamics and broader ecological effects of cancer epidemics in wildlife. We provide further examples of tumour-host interactions and trade-offs that may lead to changes in life histories, and epidemiological and population dynamics. Within this framework, we explore immunological strategies at the individual level as well as transgenerational adaptations at the population level. Then, we highlight the need to integrate multiple disciplines to undertake comparative cancer research at the human-domestic-wildlife interface and their environments. Finally, we suggest strategies for screening cancer incidence in wildlife and discuss how to integrate ecological and evolutionary concepts in the management of current and future cancer epizootics.
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INTRODUCTION: Hemiarthroplasty is increasingly used for the treatment of geriatric femoral neck fractures in an effort to optimize value-based care. The current American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guidelines released in 2014 for the treatment of geriatric hip fractures recommend the utilization of monopolar cemented constructs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate hip hemiarthroplasty implant cost variability and implant selection trends from 2006 to 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 940 geriatric hip fractures treated with hemiarthroplasty was conducted across 3 institutions from 2006 to 2018. Variables examined were construct type, surgeon, operative time, patient mortality, and implant cost. Statistical analysis consisted of multigroup comparative tests and multiple linear regression analyses to evaluate correlative measures. RESULTS: The study population was 85.0 ± 7.9 years of age with a body mass index of 24.0 ± 5.5. A total of 33 (3.5%) patients were deceased at the 90-day postoperative mark and 45 (4.8%) patients at the 1-year mark. There was no statistical difference in terms of mortality between the 4 implant cohorts at the 90-day mark (P = .56) and 1-year mark (P = .24). The bipolar press-fit construct was the most expensive, US$3900.61 ± US$2607.54, and the monopolar cemented construct was the least expensive, US$2618.68 ± US$1834.16. The mean operative time was 6 minutes greater for press-fit implants, 93.6 ± 32.0, than cemented implants, 87.1 ± 33.6 (P = .02). The use of monopolar cemented implants increased from 12.1% to 83.3%, while bipolar press-fit decreased from 57.6% to 4.6% from 2013 to 2018. DISCUSSION: The use of a bipolar and/or press-fit implant significantly increases construct cost despite little evidence in the literature of improved outcomes. Contrary to previous research, cemented implants do not increase the operative time. CONCLUSIONS: Encouragingly, selection of the most cost-conscience implant, monopolar cemented, has been increasing since 2014, which may reflect the influence of current AAOS guidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level III.
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In the setting of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, new strategies are needed to address the unique and significant palliative care (PC) needs of patients with COVID-19 and their families, particularly when health systems are stressed by patient surges. Many PC teams rely on referral-based consultation methods that can result in needs going unidentified and/or unmet. Here, we describe a novel system to proactively identify and meet the PC needs of all patients with COVID-19 being cared for in our hospital's intensive care units. Patients were screened through a combination of chart review and brief provider interview, and PC consultations were provided via telemedicine for those with unmet needs identified. In the first six weeks of operation, our pilot program of proactive screening and outreach resulted in PC consultation for 12 of the 29 (41%) adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with COVID-19 at our institution. Consultations were most commonly for patient and family support as well as for goals of care and advance care planning, consistent with identified PC needs within this unique patient population.
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Betacoronavirus , Infecciones por Coronavirus/terapia , Cuidados Críticos , Necesidades y Demandas de Servicios de Salud , Cuidados Paliativos , Neumonía Viral/terapia , COVID-19 , Humanos , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
Processing and maturation of precursor RNA species is coupled to RNA polymerase II transcription. Co-transcriptional RNA processing helps to ensure efficient and proper capping, splicing, and 3' end processing of different RNA species to help ensure quality control of the transcriptome. Many improperly processed transcripts are not exported from the nucleus, are restricted to the site of transcription, and are in some cases degraded, which helps to limit any possibility of aberrant RNA causing harm to cellular health. These critical quality control pathways are regulated by the highly dynamic protein-protein interaction network at the site of transcription. Recent work has further revealed the extent to which the processes of transcription and RNA processing and quality control are integrated, and how critically their coupling relies upon the dynamic protein interactions that take place co-transcriptionally. This review focuses specifically on the intricate balance between 3' end processing and RNA decay during transcription termination. This article is categorized under: RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms RNA Processing > Capping and 5' End Modifications.
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ARN Polimerasa II/metabolismo , Precursores del ARN/metabolismo , Procesamiento Postranscripcional del ARN , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética , Mapas de Interacción de ProteínasRESUMEN
Many interesting and promising prototypes for visualizing video data have been proposed, including those that combine videos with their spatial context (contextualized videos). However, relatively little work has investigated the fundamental design factors behind these prototypes in order to provide general design guidance. Focusing on real-time video data visualization, we evaluated two important design factors--video placement method and spatial context presentation method--through a user study. In addition, we evaluated the effect of spatial knowledge of the environment. Participants' performance was measured through path reconstruction tasks, where the participants followed a target through simulated surveillance videos and marked the target paths on the environment model. We found that embedding videos inside the model enabled realtime strategies and led to faster performance. With the help of contextualized videos, participants not familiar with the real environment achieved similar task performance to participants that worked in that environment. We discuss design implications and provide general design recommendations for traffic and security surveillance system interfaces.
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Spt6 is a histone chaperone that associates with RNA polymerase II and deposits nucleosomes in the wake of transcription. Although Spt6 has an essential function in nucleosome deposition, it is not known whether this function is influenced by post-translational modification. Here, we report that casein kinase II (CKII) phosphorylation of Spt6 is required for nucleosome occupancy at the 5' ends of genes to prevent aberrant antisense transcription and enforce transcriptional directionality. Mechanistically, we show that CKII phosphorylation of Spt6 promotes the interaction of Spt6 with Spn1, a binding partner required for chromatin reassembly and full recruitment of Spt6 to genes. Our study defines a function for CKII phosphorylation in transcription and highlights the importance of post-translational modification in histone chaperone function.
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Quinasa de la Caseína II/metabolismo , Chaperonas de Histonas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolismo , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Transcripción Genética , Factores de Elongación Transcripcional/metabolismo , Cromatina/metabolismo , Genoma Fúngico , Chaperonas de Histonas/química , Modelos Biológicos , Nucleosomas/metabolismo , Fosforilación , Unión Proteica , Proteínas de Saccharomyces cerevisiae/química , Factores de Elongación Transcripcional/químicaRESUMEN
Tasmanian devils have spawned two transmissible cancer clones, known as devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) and devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2). DFT1 and DFT2 are transmitted between animals by the transfer of allogeneic contagious cancer cells by biting, and both cause facial tumours. DFT1 and DFT2 tumours are grossly indistinguishable, but can be differentiated using histopathology, cytogenetics or genotyping of polymorphic markers. However, standard diagnostic methods require specialist skills and equipment and entail long processing times. Here, we describe Tasman-PCR: a simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay that identifies and distinguishes DFT1 and DFT2 by amplification of DNA spanning tumour-specific interchromosomal translocations. We demonstrate the high sensitivity and specificity of this assay by testing DNA from 546 tumours and 804 normal devils. A temporal-spatial screen confirmed the reported geographic ranges of DFT1 and DFT2 and did not provide evidence of additional DFT clones. DFT2 affects disproportionately more males than females, and devils can be co-infected with DFT1 and DFT2. Overall, we present a PCR-based assay that delivers rapid, accurate and high-throughput diagnosis of DFT1 and DFT2. This tool provides an additional resource for devil disease management and may assist with ongoing conservation efforts.
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The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial found only in the wild in Tasmania, Australia. Tasmanian devils are classified as endangered and are currently threatened by devil facial tumour disease, a lethal transmissible cancer that has decimated the wild population in Tasmania. To prevent extinction of Tasmanian devils, conservation management was implemented in 2003 under the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. This study aimed to assess if conservation management was altering the interactions between Tasmanian devils and their parasites. Molecular tools were used to investigate the prevalence and diversity of two protozoan parasites, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, in Tasmanian devils. A comparison of parasite prevalence between wild and captive Tasmanian devils showed that both Cryptosporidium and Giardia were significantly more prevalent in wild devils (p < 0.05); Cryptosporidium was identified in 37.9% of wild devils but only 10.7% of captive devils, while Giardia was identified in 24.1% of wild devils but only 0.82% of captive devils. Molecular analysis identified the presence of novel genotypes of both Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The novel Cryptosporidium genotype was 98.1% similar at the 18S rDNA to Cryptosporidium varanii (syn. C. saurophilum) with additional samples identified as C. fayeri, C. muris, and C. galli. Two novel Giardia genotypes, TD genotype 1 and TD genotype 2, were similar to G. duodenalis from dogs (94.4%) and a Giardia assemblage A isolate from humans (86.9%). Giardia duodenalis BIV, a zoonotic genotype of Giardia, was also identified in a single captive Tasmanian devil. These findings suggest that conservation management may be altering host-parasite interactions in the Tasmanian devil, and the presence of G. duodenalis BIV in a captive devil points to possible human-devil parasite transmission.