UVM Researchers Identify First Transmissible Cancer In Freshwater Fish
University of Vermont researchers have identified what they say is the first known transmissible cancer in a freshwater fish, discovering that a melanoma affecting brown bullhead catfish spreads from fish to fish through living cancer cells rather than developing independently in each animal.
The findings, published July 22 in the journal Nature, stem from more than a decade of research into unusual black lesions found on brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog, which straddles the Vermont-Quebec border.
Researchers began investigating the lesions after anglers and biologists reported fish with dark growths in 2012. According to UVM, initial studies ruled out pollution and viruses as likely causes. Instead, whole-genome sequencing showed the cancer cells from different fish were more closely related to one another than to the fish carrying them, indicating the tumors originated from a single cancer lineage that now spreads between animals.
The discovery surprised scientists because melanoma is typically associated with ultraviolet light exposure. Brown bullhead catfish are bottom-dwelling fish that spend little time in sunlight.
And now it’s time for your Moo92 sports…
The Boston Red Sox dropped game 2 against the A’s late Tuesday night by a score of 4-3. Jake Bennett gave up 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 and a third. This is only Boston’s 3rd loss in their last 21 games. The Red Sox will send Patrick Sandoval to the mound tonight. First pitch at 9:40pm.