Skin cancer found in reef fish

[Harlequinmania]

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For the first time, scientists have identified widespread skin cancer on an important reef fish species. The Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus) was the center of a 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.  Of the136 specimens, 15% (20 fish) exhibited melanomas lesions on surface of their skin covering from 5% to 98% of their body.

The entire study is available at PLoS ONE.

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Dr Michael Sweet is a main contributor to the website Aquarium Coral Diseases.  Read Advanced Aquarist's interview with Dr. Sweet.

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