Gray-colored transient killer whale spotted

On December 10, 2009 Capt Jim Maya, a whale watch operator from San Juan Island, photographed this white/gray colored transient killer whale. While nobody knows for sure why this whale is colored this way, grey and albino killer whales have been reported before.

In the 1970's, an albino orca in a Canadian aquarium was diagnosed with Chediak-Higashi syndrome and this syndrome could be the reason for the lack of coloration seen in the transient photographed by Capt. Jim on December 10th. Chediak-Higashi syndrome damages the immune system, increasing an animal's susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections.  More specifically, it is an inherited genetic mutation that reduces the ability of white blood cells to destroy infectious agents such as bacteria.  This mutation also reduces skin pigmentation, resulting in full or partial albinism.  Chediak-Higashi syndrome has also been reported in humans, mice and cattle.

Genetic, infectious, parasitic and toxic diseases can impact the recovery of endangered species like the southern resident killer whales and SeaDoc has been working with other experts around the region to study and monitor diseases in killer whales. We thank Capt. Jim of Maya Westside Charters on San Juan Island for these photographs.

Research & text credit: Michelle Barbieri (2009 SeaDoc summer intern, UC Davis Veterinary Student)

Photo Credit: Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters

References:

Kaplan, J et al. 2008.  Chediak-Higashi syndrome.  Current Opinion in Hematology. 2008 Jan; 15 (1): 22-29.

Ridgeway, S. 1979. Reported causes of death of captive killer whales (Orcinus orca).  Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 15: 99-104.

U.S National Library of Medicine.  Reviewed February 2008.  Chediak-Higashi Syndrome.  http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=chediakhigashisyndrome