Tumors of White Suckers from Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes

Session: 07. - Effects of Environmental Contamination on Fish Communities

Heather Walsh, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]
Vicki Blazer, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]

Abstract

As part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) were sampled from multiple Areas of Concern (AOC) including the Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Sheboygan Rivers.  White suckers, were targeted due to the high prevalence of tumors on the skin and within the liver.  These anomalies were used to address the beneficial use impairment (BUI)  “fish tumors or other deformities.”    As a comparison, white sucker from the Kewaunee River were sampled since this is not an AOC and is less impacted.  The types of  raised lesions observed on the skin included discrete white spots, mucoid plaques and multilobed tumors. Microscopically, papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas were identified.  In the liver, biliary tumors and malignant hepatic cell tumors were observed. The goal of this study is to characterize the types of tumors observed in white suckers and provide information to management agencies on the status of the “fish tumors or other deformities” BUI in these AOCs.As part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) were sampled from multiple Areas of Concern (AOC) including the Milwaukee, St. Louis, and to provide information to management agencies on the status of the “fish tumors or other deformities” BUI in these AOCs.

1. Keyword
bioindicators

2. Keyword
biomonitoring

3. Keyword
fish diseases

4. Additional Keyword
tumors