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Simon, A; Chambellant, M; Ward, B J; Simard, Martin; Proulx, J F; Levesque, B; Bigras-Poulin, M; Rousseau, A N; Ogden, N H (2011): Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from the Canadian Arctic [dataset publication series]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.837021, Supplement to: Simon, A et al. (2011): Spatio-temporal variations and age effect on Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in seals from the Canadian Arctic. Parasitology, 138(11), 1362-1368, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182011001260

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Published: 2011 (exact date unknown) • DOI registered: 2014-11-19

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Abstract:
Toxoplasmosis is a significant public health threat for Inuit in the Canadian Arctic. This study aimed to investigate arctic seals as a possible food-borne source of infection. Blood samples collected from 828 seals in 7 Canadian Arctic communities from 1999 to 2006 were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using a direct agglutination test. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect T. gondii DNA in tissues of a subsample of seals. Associations between seal age, sex, species, diet, community and year of capture, and serological test results were investigated by logistic regression. Overall seroprevalence was 10.4% (86/828). All tissues tested were negative by PCR. In ringed seals, seroprevalence was significantly higher in juveniles than in adults (odds ratio = 2.44). Overall, seroprevalence varied amongst communities (P = 0.0119) and by capture year (P = 0.0001). Our study supports the hypothesis that consumption of raw seal meat is a significant source of infection for Inuit. This work raises many questions about the mechanism of transfer of this terrestrial parasite to the marine environment, the preponderance of infection in younger animals and the natural course of infection in seals. Further studies to address these questions are essential to fully understand the health risks for Inuit communities.
Project(s):
International Polar Year (2007-2008) (IPY)
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 64.069663 * Median Longitude: -103.946674 * South-bound Latitude: 56.517000 * West-bound Longitude: -133.034000 * North-bound Latitude: 71.971400 * East-bound Longitude: -79.221000
Date/Time Start: 1999-01-01T00:00:00 * Date/Time End: 2006-01-01T00:00:00
Comment:
Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-3.0)
Size:
3 datasets

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Datasets listed in this publication series

  1. Simon, A; Chambellant, M; Ward, BJ et al. (2011): (Table 1) Prevalence of specific antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii among ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Canada, according to sex and age class. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.837018
  2. Simon, A; Chambellant, M; Ward, BJ et al. (2011): (Table 1) Prevalence of specific antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii among ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Canada, according to community. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.837019
  3. Simon, A; Chambellant, M; Ward, BJ et al. (2014): (Table 1) Prevalence of specific antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii among ringed seals (Pusa hispida) from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Canada, according to sampling year. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.837020