Ailing killer whale off B.C. coast diagnosed with parasitic worms

Scientists say an emaciated and endangered killer whale that's been swimming in waters off the West Coast has parasitic worms.

Michael Milstein of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration saidin an email that biologists are standing by to deliver a dart with deworming medication to J50.

The youngorcais part of a group that became separated from a main pod that swims between Canadian and U.S. waters in shipping lanes to Vancouver and Seattle.

The administration's Facebook page says genetic analysis of some results of fecal and breath samples the team collected shows the evidence of parasitic worms.

The administration has previously said the nearly four-year-old whale, also known as Scarlet, appears lethargic at times with periods of activity, and that she is in poor condition and may not survive.

The statement also says researchers in Seattle have a DNA breath sample collected from J50 last month, and while it yielded little DNA, they are adapting their analysis to make the most of the available material.

The Vancouver Aquarium's head veterinarian, Martin Haulena, was able to dart the sickly whale with an antibiotic on Monday.

The distressed southern resident killer whale has been the focus of a cross-border emergency response from fisheries officials and veterinarians for several weeks after images revealed the whale had lost 20 per cent of itsbody weight.

Worms arenot usually a problem in healthy animals, butthe parasite can penetrate the stomach lining inthin, weak or compromised animals and cause a bacterial infection in the bloodstream or bore into internal organs.

With files from CBCNews

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