Mysterious Eggs Baffling Scientists
http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=127955

Mysterious Eggs Baffling Scientists
KOTV

Oklahoma scientists have hooked a mystery in Lake Eufaula. They're
finding fish that look perfectly healthy on the outside, but on the
inside, it's a catfish of a different color. Two days before weekend
show boaters take over the lake, the water belongs to science. News On 6
meteorologist Dick Faurot reports biologist Stuart Woods is out with
game wardens and researchers, trying to solve a purple puzzle.
"It was an unknown phenomenon, unknown worldwide as far as we can tell,
only in Lake Eufaula, said Woods. No place else has
anyone ever heard of this."

Woods says it started last year when a half-dozen female blue catfish
turned out to have discolored eggs. Normally yellow or cream-colored, a
few fish had purple eggs. Scientists were baffled and still are. That's
why they're back on the lake, to gather more information.
The Wildlife Department runs a boat that stuns blue catfish with an
electric shock. Volunteers scoop up the fish, and try to sort out the
females. Most look healthy from the outside. Woods says that's part of
the challenge.
The researchers take a sample of the eggs with a syringe. Those that
look suspicious have to be cut open. Out of ten fish, Woods' crew found
two with purple eggs. An Arkansas lab says the discolored eggs will
never hatch, but with every answer, comes more questions.

"Now we know it has at least two years in a row, so we're going to be
curious if it continues, said Woods. Will it be 5
years, 10 years? Is this a permanent discoloration?"
Woods is worried if the purple plague spreads, it could reduce the
blue-cat population. He doesn't know if it could spread to other
species. A lab in Missouri will check to see if it's a toxin, protein or
an enzyme causing the discoloration. But until scientists know what's
causing it, there's no way to stop it.

The researchers will be out on the lake Thursday and Friday, before the
Memorial Day crowd arrives, but they say the extra anglers may help.
They need more samples.

If you catch a blue catfish with purple eggs, call 918-207-6703.

Some blue catfish are turning up with purple eggs.

The eggs are normally yellow or cream-colored.