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Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Technology

Transmissible Cancer Found in Freshwater Fish for First Time

The cells in brown bullhead catfish behave more like parasites than traditional tumors, raising new questions about cancer transmission.

Talivio News · Global 1 min read
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A transmissible cancer has been discovered in brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog and other lakes in New England and Canada, researchers have reported.

This marks the first time a transmissible cancer has been identified in a freshwater fish species, according to the scientists involved in the study.

The cancer cells behave more like parasites than conventional tumors.

The researchers noted that the cancer cells behave more like parasites than conventional tumors, spreading between individuals rather than growing only within a single host.

Updates

Scientists have identified the transmissible cancer found in brown bullhead catfish as a melanoma. Genetic studies have confirmed that this rare condition represents the first documented case of a transmissible cancer in fish, discovered by a research team based in Vermont.

Devin Okonkwo

Technology Correspondent · Talivio News

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Sources

  1. phys.orgTransmissible cancer cells discovered in fish act more like parasites than traditional tumors (opens in a new window)
  2. nature.comBrown bullhead catfish melanoma represents a novel transmissible cancer (opens in a new window)
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