New research shows that killer whales are inhaling bacteria, fungi and viruses once believed to be found only on land

[Emily]

Killer whales facing an airborne threat

Originally published April 19, 2012 at 8:56 PM | Page modified April 19, 2012 at 9:53 PM


New research shows that killer whales are inhaling bacteria, fungi and viruses once believed to be found only on land. Some of the pathogens are highly virulent. And some are even antibiotic-resistant.

By Craig Welch

Seattle Times environment reporter

The discovery comes as researchers also learn that respiratory ailments may be a leading cause of orca deaths, and that leads biologists to a new question:

Given that Puget Sound's orcas are stressed and potentially more susceptible to illness, how much risk could exposure to new sources of infection pose?

"It's pretty disturbing and opens a whole new can of worms," said marine-mammal veterinarian Pete Schroeder. "We have an iconic species of animal that is in danger and whose ability to withstand a severe infection is in question. Now we know they can inhale antibiotic-resistant bacteria and it can live in their upper respiratory tract."

The research is so new, it's hard to draw firm conclusions.

Raverty and others also published a paper in 2010 about a killer whale that had washed up dead years earlier in California. It had been infected with a strain of Salmonella normally associated with birds, humans and livestock. It had never been seen before in a killer whale ? and this particular animal was a transient that had spent most of its life far out to sea.