Transmissible melanoma found in catfish from Lake Memphremagog

Scientists from Vermont Fish and Wildlife have identified melanoma, a skin cancer, in brown bullhead catfish from Lake Memphremagog, which straddles the Vermont-Quebec border. Sampling conducted in 2012-2013 found that between 23% and 37% of the fish displayed lesions on their skin, gills, lips or eyes. > "It looks like black tar on the skin – not very pretty," biologist Peter Emerson told NPR, noting the lesions do not appear to aid the fish. Researchers propose the disease spreads through cancer cells released into the water by an infected individual, creating a transmissible tumor outbreak. They suggest the 2011 flooding from Hurricane Irene, which degraded water quality through runoff, may have triggered the emergence of the disease. The phenomenon adds to a limited list of known transmissible cancers in animals, which includes cases in dogs, Tasmanian devils, clams and other shellfish. > "This finding does reinforce the idea that transmissible cancers could emerge anywhere, including in our own species," researcher Elizabeth Murchison said.