Seasonal Occurrence of Virally Induced Skin Tumors in Wild Fish

Seasonal trends in the prevalence of virally induced skin tumors are reviewed for a variety of wild fish with emphasis on neoplasms in the walleye Stizostedion vitreum. The relationship of temperature to mechanisms of virally induced tumorigenesis and regression in fish is also summarized. Particular emphasis is placed on teleost physiological parameters such as the immune response and endocrinological levels. Other elements of a multifactorial hypothesis for seasonal tumor fluctuations in fish are also discussed.