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Aquarium's beluga whale battles bone infectionBy Peggy Mihelich  Gasper is suffering from a bone infection in his flipper and tail. RELATED
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Veterinarians and staff at the Georgia Aquarium are working to treat Gasper, a 17-year-old male beluga whale suffering from a potentially fatal bone disease. Last week staff diagnosed the sickly whale with osteomyelitis, an infectious, inflammatory bone condition. The infected areas were found in the whale's right pectoral flipper and tail. "It's clearly a condition that we feel could be life threatening," said Tim Binder, the aquarium's director of husbandry. Osteomyelitis can occur in humans or any animal with bones. It's caused when bacteria in the body is carried to the bones through the bloodstream, infecting the marrow and causing painful swelling. An infection can last for years and can lead to bone death if left untreated. "It's probably mildly painful. He doesn't seem to be in pain. ... If you or I had osteomyelitis, we'd probably be limping a little. But it's hard to tell with these guys," Binder said. The staff is exploring treatment options for Gasper, including oral or injectable antibiotics, chemotherapy and seed implantation. "We believe it to be a slow-moving disease. He's probably had it for quite some time," Binder said. Before his arrival at the aquarium in October 2005, Gasper lived under a roller coaster at a Mexico City amusement park. He was underweight and had skin lesions on his flipper, tail and body. Aquarium staff members said they don't know what caused the lesions and the newly diagnosed infection. However, they said they suspect the stress of having a roller coaster pounding overhead may have suppressed the whale's immune system, allowing unknown bacteria to enter his body. Gasper can live with the skin lesions, which are being treated with an antibiotic ointment, Binder said. But the bone disease will spread without treatment. "Whether or not it would ultimately cause his death, I don't know that because we don't know what we are dealing with," he said. Gasper is a show stopper for the aquarium, which opened in November. He blows bubbles and makes faces at visitors who stop by the viewing window to watch him and his four tank mates -- Nico, Natasha, Maris and Marina. (Watch as the staff feeds Natasha, a female beluga whale, and her four hungry tank mates -- 3:57) He was taken out of the tank two weeks ago when he stopped eating. He underwent a barrage of tests that led to the most recent diagnosis. Binder said Gasper's appetite has returned and he'll go back on exhibit from time to time as he shows signs of improved health. "We'll let the situation tell us how best to manage him," he said. "Our goal is to get him back on exhibit because that would be a good thing for him." Beluga whales are warmblooded mammals that live in Arctic waters -- swimming among icebergs and ice floes and eating a variety of fish. They are called the "canaries of the sea" because of their vocalizing -- in belches, squeaks and whistles. Estimates put the world's beluga population at 50,000 to 70,000 animals, according to MarineBio.org, an online volunteer organization of marine students and biologists. Belugas are not endangered, but overhunting and pollution have reduced their populations -- most notably in Canada's St. Lawrence Estuary. The average beluga grows to 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.6 meters) and weighs around 3,330 pounds (1,500 kilograms). The belugas' characteristic white skin, bulbous melon head and playful antics make them a top draw for aquariums. 
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