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Flood-Linked Transmissible Melanoma Hits 30% Memphremagog Catfish

7/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at the University of Vermont identified a transmissible melanoma in brown bullhead catfish from Lake Memphremagog.
The lesions were present in 23% to 37% of sampled fish.
Genome sequencing showed tumor cells share variants and are more similar to each other than to host fish, confirming transmissibility.
Researchers linked the outbreak to 2011 Hurricane Irene flooding and arsenic in lake sediments, noting it cannot infect humans or other species.

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Story summary

Researchers at the University of Vermont identified a transmissible melanoma in brown bullhead catfish from Lake Memphremagog.
The lesions were present in 23% to 37% of sampled fish.
Genome sequencing showed tumor cells share variants and are more similar to each other than to host fish, confirming transmissibility.
Researchers linked the outbreak to 2011 Hurricane Irene flooding and arsenic in lake sediments, noting it cannot infect humans or other species.