lake memphremagog catfish lesions

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What's driving the attention

Scientists discovered a rare transmissible cancer spreading among catfish in Lake Memphremagog, attracting attention in Canada and the U.S.

Research has confirmed the presence of a new transmissible cancer in brown bullhead catfish from Lake Memphremagog, spanning the Canada-U.S. border. This type of cancer, which behaves similarly to a parasite, is spreading through the fish population causing visible lesions. This finding is notable as it represents a rare case of transmissible cancer in freshwater fish and has attracted scientific and public interest regarding aquatic wildlife health and disease transmission dynamics.