Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) as Potential Reservoirs and Sentinels of Toxoplasma gondii in Northern Canada

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite globally infecting a wide range of species, including humans. Felids are the only known hosts that can excrete environmentally resistant oocysts into ecosystems. In boreal regions, Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) are sought by hunters primarily for their fur, and they are occasionally eaten. We examined carcasses salvaged from trappers from boreal regions of eastern (n = 97) and western (n = 357) Canada. We detected T. gondii antibodies in fluid from thawed heart tissue using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, DNA in brain and heart via magnetic capture and real-time PCR assay, and presence of DNA in feces using a real-time PCR with melt curve analysis. We detected antibodies against T. gondii and DNA in tissues in 24% and 19% of lynx, respectively. One lynx was positive for DNA of T. gondii in feces, which could indicate intestinal infection and potential for shedding oocysts. Our results indicate that lynx may be a useful sentinel species for monitoring environmental circulation of T. gondii in northern boreal regions and may pose a risk for transmission to other wildlife and to people handling or consuming lynx.

Dining with a glutton: an intraguild interaction between scavenging wolverine (Gulo gulo) and lynx (Lynx canadensis)

“…The substantial length of time these individuals remained in close proximity suggests that similar interactions at carcasses may be a potential location for disease transmission (Borchering et al, 2017; Wallace et al, 2021). Canada lynx and wolverine in our region are known reservoirs for pathogens of interest, including Toxoplasma gondii (Bouchard et al, 2023) and Trichinella spp. (Sharma et al, 2020, 2021), respectively.…”

Toxoplasma gondii and related Sarcocystidae parasites in harvested caribou from Nunavik, Canada

“…Seroprevalence in Canadian lynx in Québec (QC) ranges between 14% and 36% when using MAT ( Simon et al, 2013 ). More recent data using the ELISA IDVET kit reported a seroprevalence of 36% (n = 18/50) in southern QC and 86% (n = 6/7) in Nunavik, and a tissue prevalence of 24% and 86%, respectively ( Bouchard et al, 2023 ). In the same study, only one of 62 lynx was positive for DNA consistent with T. gondii in feces.…”

Wildlife parasitology: sample collection and processing, diagnostic constraints, and methodological challenges in terrestrial carnivores

“…In case no blood or serosanguineous fluid can be collected from a carcass, bloody tissue fluids represent an alternative to collecting samples for serological testing. Even if carcasses, organs, or tissues were frozen or stored for extended periods sample collection from tissues should still be possible and result in adequate samples for serological testing [ 260 , 263 ].…”