The term melanosis is used to describe the presence of unusual amounts of melanin in abnormal areas. Melanin is considered to plays a defensive role, since it is capable of absorbing and neutralizing free radicals, cations and potentially toxic compounds derived from the breakdown and phagocytosis of cellular material. Inflammatory reactions and tissue degeneration in bony fish frequently involve melanomacrophages. These macrophages contain fragments derived from phagocytized debris and cells, often erythrocytes, and pigments such as melanin, lipofuscin and haemosiderin. In salmonids these cytoplasmic granules...