Evidence of Melanoma in Wild Marine Fish Populations has been Identified.

For the first time in scientific history widespread skin cancer has been identified on one of the most important reef fish species. The Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus) was the center of this study conducted by the Newcastle University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science collecting specimens from the southern portion of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: Heron Island and One Tree Island. “The individuals we looked at had extensive — but only surface — melanomas,” explains Doctor Michael Sweet who led a team that studied 136 sample fish. “UV radiation appears to be the likely cause,” explains Dr Sweet.  Figure one: Microscopic images of Coral Trout skin A) Scanning Electron Micrgraph (SEM) of healthy tissues; B) SEM of a cancer lesion Of these 136 15% (20 fish) exhibited melanomas on surface of their skin covering from 5% of the fish to the entire body. UV-induced melanomas are induced in laboratory conditions to help understand skin cancer in humans. It is thought the hybridization (cross-breeding) of fish, a process probably happening in the wild, may also play a role in the susceptibility of UV-induced melanomas of fish. Read more here!