Cancer in Various Animals

Cancer Among Various

Life Forms

Professor Swatski

Bio 101

9 December 2011

By: Ahlaina Worden

Sea Lions

The disease typically starts around the penis in males and the cervix in females, then spreads. In an average year, the Marine Mammal Center sees 15 to 20 California sea lions with cancer. A post-mortem examination revealed not only cancer in the penis, but also tumors riddling the lymph nodes, lower spine, kidneys, liver and lungs. 18% of deaths in adult sea lions were the result of tumors in the reproductive and urinary tracts (Chen).

Birds

Genetics play a role in the likelihood of cancer for all bird species. But trauma can also be a major factor. While tumor-like conditions occur in birds, is not technically classified as a cancer, these conditions have a tendency to favor change, which make them difficult to classify. Overall physical condition of a bird is also a determining factor. Obese parrots are more susceptible to cancer than those birds who eat nothing but seed mix and birds who receive little exercise are more prone to tumors. Skin cancers are also more likely with these overfed, under-exercised birds: Unhealthy skin with a layer of fat underneath is a recipe for trouble (Pham).

Green Turtle

Cancer in green turtles have increased 92% , since the early 1980's. Reaching epic proportions in some areas along the coasts of Florida, Hawaii, and Caribbean islands. Cancer adds to the long list that is decreasing the turtle population. A few other factors are; over-hunting of the turtles, their eggs, and fishing accidents. Higher rates of cancer tend to be in bottom feeding animals and fish. The potential dangers of pollution settling to the bottom of lakes and waterways increases the risk of animals getting cancer (Lepisto).

Sharks

If you were to walk into any health and nutrition store today, you would most likely find bottles of shark cartilage pills. Advertised as having numerous cancer fighting agents. Shark cartilage is ingested based on a belief that sharks do not get cancer. This is yet another shark myth. Just like humans, sharks do get cancer and the number of documented cases of shark cancer is growing quickly. For the past 100 years, scientists have studied cancerous tumors in sharks. The first shark tumor was recorded in 1908. Scientists have since discovered benign and cancerous tumors in 18 of the 1,168 species of sharks (“Shark Cartilage”).

Mice

There is still no cure for prostate cancer, but scientists may be getting very close to one. They say they have developed a vaccine that destroys even advanced prostate tumors without any side effects. However it has only been tested in mice. The scientists from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minn. and at the University of Leeds in England - hope the treatment can one day work in humans as well ( Van Dyke, et al).

Beluga Whale

Over a quarter of all the deaths of endangered adult beluga whales in Canada's Saint Lawrence Estuary are caused by cancer, local researchers have found. Such high rates of cancer are unprecedented in wild animals, apart from fish. Industrial pollution is the most likely cause, veterinary pathologists claim. The researchers found that cancer of the digestive tract, was the cause of death of 18% of juvenile belugas and 27% of the adults (Lepisto).

The South African Clawed Toad

Spontaneous tumors may occasionally develop in the south african clawed toad. However, they are extremely rare in natural and laboratory populations. They are less likely to develop neoplasms (growths). The dramatic metamorphosis which amphibians go through is a very unique process. During this process it is believed that the cancer protective agents are formed (Ruben, Clothier, Balls).

Spider

Breast cancer cells may be destroyed by venom from poisonous spiders Australian researchers announced Monday October 25,2011. This is big news because what if other venomous animals can also, kill cancer cells in not just humans but other species. Spider venom molecules are designed to target very specific sites the researchers are hoping that some of these molecules will specifically target cancer cells (Shefchik).

Works CitedChen, Ingfei. “Cancer Kills Many Sea Lions, and It’s Cause Remains a Mystery.” NYTimes. New

York Times, 5 Mar. 2010. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/science/05sfsealion.html>

Lepisto, Christine. “Cancer Threaten Wild Animal Populations.” Treehugger. Discovery Inc., 2009.

Web. 2 Nov. 2011.<http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/cancers-threaten-

wild-animal-populations.html>

Pham, Angela. “Cancer in Birds: Genetics in Bird Species Play a Big Role in Liklihood of Cancer.”

Bird Channel. BowTie, Inc., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2011. <http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-

news/2008/11/25/cancer-in-birds.aspx>

Ruben, L.N, R.H. Clothier. And M. Balls. “Cancer Resistance in Amphibian.”Alternatives to

Laboratory Animals 35.5 (Oct. 2007): 463-70. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18001168>

“Shark Cartilage.” American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Inc., 1 Nov. 2008. Web. 2 Nov.

2011. <http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandA

lternativeMedicine/PharmacologicalandBiologicalTreatment/shark-cartilage>

Shefchik, Claire. “Breast Cancer Researchers Test Spider Venom Treatment.” Boomer Health &

Lifestyle:News You Need to Know Now. ThirdAge Media, LLC., 25 Oct. 2011. Web. 2 Nov.

2011. <http://www.thirdage.com/news/breast-cancer-researchers-test-spider-venom-

treatment_10-25-2011>

Van Dyke, Terry A., et al. “Mouse Cancer Genetics Program.” National Cancer Institute. National

Cancer Institute, 8 Aug. 2011. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.

<http://ccr.cancer.gov/Labs/lab.asp?labid=61>