ABSTRACT
Three watersheds, varying from highly polluted or moderately polluted to essentially pollution-free, were surveyed to determine the frequency of fish disease. Over a five year period, it was found that a relationship existed between the level of pollution and frequency of disease. The occurrence rates of microbial and oncogenic diseases increased similarly in relation to increases in pollution in the waters. Since the water systems studied provide recreational opportunities for man, it is suggested that catching and subsequent ingesting of diseased fish from these waters present a health hazard.
Subject(s)
Fish Diseases/epidemiology , Water Pollution , Animals , Bacterial Infections/epidemiology , Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Fishes , Kidney Diseases/epidemiology , Kidney Diseases/veterinary , Mycoses/epidemiology , Mycoses/veterinary , Sepsis/epidemiology , Sepsis/veterinary , Spine/abnormalities , Virus Diseases/epidemiology , Virus Diseases/veterinarySubject(s)
Fish Diseases/etiology , Water Pollutants, Chemical/poisoning , Water Pollutants/poisoning , Animals , Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/veterinary , Fishes , Helminthiasis, Animal , Kidney Diseases/veterinary , Liver Neoplasms/veterinary , Lymphoma/veterinary , Mycoses/veterinary , Myxococcales , Sepsis/veterinary , Vinyl Chloride/toxicity , Virus Diseases/veterinarySubject(s)
Fish Diseases/transmission , Jaw Neoplasms/veterinary , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/veterinary , Water Pollutants, Chemical/adverse effects , Water Pollutants/adverse effects , Animals , Fish Diseases/etiology , Fishes , Illinois , Jaw Neoplasms/etiology , Jaw Neoplasms/transmission , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/etiology , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/transmission , Neoplasm Transplantation , Transplantation, Homologous , Viruses/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
The largest excess in tumor incidence due to pollution (616%) was observed in the fish species: Ictalurus nebulosis (the brown bullhead). Extensive analysis of waters on the Fox River in Illinois disclosed a heavy chemical and physical organic and inorganic materials far exceeding State and Federal minimal safety standards. Additional tests showed the presence of numerous human viral agents in the Fox River. Certain chemicals in the water appear to be potential carcinogens for fish. Two types of leukemia were found in 11% of the Esox lucius caught in the Fox River. It is hypothesized that these leukemias might also be of viral etiology. Experiments were conducted on Esox lucius caught in the Fox River. It is hypothesized that these leukemias might also be of viral etiology. Experiments were conducted on Esox lucius (Northern Pike). Interest centered around the possible viral origin of lymphosarcoma of the jaw in that species. Cell-free filtrates of this tumor were inoculated into a test group of fish from pollution-free waters. At the end of seven weeks, lymphosarcoma developed in 89% of the fish inoculated with cell-free homogenates. Control fish receiving inoculation of either Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) or normal tissues and kept in separate tanks at all times did not develop lymphosarcomas.
