Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, infects mammals and birds worldwide. Infection in humans is often asymptomatic, though illnesses can occur in immunocompromised hosts and the fetuses of susceptible women infected during pregnancy. In Nunavik, Canada, 60% of the Inuit population has measurable antibodies against T. gondii. Handling and consumption of wildlife have been identified as risk factors for exposure. Serological evidence of exposure has been reported for wildlife in Nunavik; however, T. gondii has not been detected in wildlife tissues commonly consumed by Inuit.MethodsWe used a magnetic capture DNA extraction and real-time PCR protocol to extract and amplify T. gondii DNA from large quantities of tissues (up to 100 g) of 441 individual animals in Nunavik: 166 ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), 156 geese (Branta canadensis and Chen caerulescens), 61 ringed seals (Pusa hispida), 31 caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and 27 walruses (Odobenus rosmarus).ResultsDNA from T. gondii was detected in 9% (95% CI: 3–15%) of geese from four communities in western and southern Nunavik, but DNA was not detected in other wildlife species including 20% (95% CI: 12–31%) of ringed seals and 26% (95% CI: 14–43%) of caribou positive on a commercial modified agglutination test (MAT) using thawed heart muscle juice. In geese, tissue parasite burden was highest in heart, followed by brain, breast muscle, liver and gizzard. Serological results did not correlate well with tissue infection status for any wildlife species.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report on the detection, quantification, and characterization of DNA of T. gondii (clonal lineage II in one goose) from wildlife harvested for food in Nunavik, which supports the hypothesis that migratory geese can carry T. gondii into Nunavik where feline definitive hosts are rare. This study suggests that direct detection methods may be useful for detection of T. gondii in wildlife harvested for human consumption and provides data needed for a quantitative exposure assessment that will determine the risk of T. gondii exposure for Inuit who harvest and consume geese in Nunavik.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, infects mammals and birds worldwide
Detection of T. gondii antibodies Antibodies were detected on modified agglutination test (MAT) of heart fluid in 20% of ringed seals and 26% of caribou (Table 2)
Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), seroprevalence in seals was estimated at 30% (Table 2)
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, infects mammals and birds worldwide. Serological evidence of exposure has been reported for wildlife in Nunavik; T. gondii has not been detected in wildlife tissues commonly consumed by Inuit. Consumption of food products of wildlife origin is frequent in Nunavik, northeastern Canada where it contributes up to 25% of people’s daily protein requirements and is consumed at least five times weekly year-round [4]. Country food is beneficial nutritionally and for ensuring food security, it can harbor chemical, physical and biological hazards sometimes harmful to human health including food-borne zoonotic parasites [5]. Understanding which zoonotic pathogens are found within wildlife reservoirs in the North is, needed to evaluate health risks for people who rely on the frequent consumption of wildlife
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