Human Seroprevalence to 11 Zoonotic Pathogens in the U.S. Arctic, Alaska

Miernyk, Karen; Bruden, Dana; Parkinson, Alan J.; Hurlburt, Debby; Klejka, Joseph; Berner, James; Stoddard, Robyn A.; Handali, Sukwan; Wilkins, Patricia P.; Kersh, Gilbert J.; Fitzpatrick, Kelly A.; Drebot, Mike; Priest, Jeffrey W.; Pappert, Ryan; Petersen, Jeannine M.; Teshale, Eyasu; Hennessy, Thomas W.; Bruce, Michael G.

doi:10.1089/vbz.2018.2390

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Our review identified 25 zoonotic bacterial ( n = 12), parasitic ( n = 9), and viral ( n = 4) diseases described across Arctic and boreal regions of Canada and Alaska that can be transmitted to humans through the hunting, consumption, preparation, or other use of wildlife ( 22 , 56 , 73 , 75 – 84 , 86 – 95 , 97 , 99 , 102 – 110 , 112 – 117 , 120 – 125 , 129 – 134 , 138 – 142 , 145 , 149 – 154 , 157 – 170 , 177 – 193 ). Table 2 summarizes the diseases, their causative agents, wild hosts, modes of transmission, and potential for local, epidemic or pandemic spread, with additional details given in the Appendix 1 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of Zoonoses From Hunting and Use of Wildlife in North American Arctic and Boreal Biomes: Pandemic Potential, Monitoring, and Mitigation

Keatts

Robards

Olson

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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The COVID-19 pandemic has re-focused attention on mechanisms that lead to zoonotic disease spillover and spread. Commercial wildlife trade, and associated markets, are recognized mechanisms for zoonotic disease emergence, resulting in a growing global conversation around reducing human disease risks from spillover associated with hunting, trade, and consumption of wild animals. These discussions are especially relevant to people who rely on harvesting wildlife to meet nutritional, and cultural needs, including those in Arctic and boreal regions. Global policies around wildlife use and trade can impact food sovereignty and security, especially of Indigenous Peoples. We reviewed known zoonotic pathogens and current risks of transmission from wildlife (including fish) to humans in North American Arctic and boreal biomes, and evaluated the epidemic and pandemic potential of these zoonoses. We discuss future concerns, and consider monitoring and mitigation measures in these changing socio-ecological systems. While multiple zoonotic pathogens circulate in these systems, risks to humans are mostly limited to individual illness or local community outbreaks. These regions are relatively remote, subject to very cold temperatures, have relatively low wildlife, domestic animal, and pathogen diversity, and in many cases low density, including of humans. Hence, favorable conditions for emergence of novel diseases or major amplification of a spillover event are currently not present. The greatest risk to northern communities from pathogens of pandemic potential is via introduction with humans visiting from other areas. However, Arctic and boreal ecosystems are undergoing rapid changes through climate warming, habitat encroachment, and development; all of which can change host and pathogen relationships, thereby affecting the probability of the emergence of new (and re-emergence of old) zoonoses. Indigenous leadership and engagement in disease monitoring, prevention and response, is vital from the outset, and would increase the success of such efforts, as well as ensure the protection of Indigenous rights as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Partnering with northern communities and including Indigenous Knowledge Systems would improve the timeliness, and likelihood, of detecting emerging zoonotic risks, and contextualize risk assessments to the unique human-wildlife relationships present in northern biomes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of Zoonoses From Hunting and Use of Wildlife in North American Arctic and Boreal Biomes: Pandemic Potential, Monitoring, and Mitigation

Keatts

Robards

Olson

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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“…population and more closely approximate the findings from our study. A study that evaluated the seroprevalence among Alaska residents participating in outdoor activities that may increase the risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens found that 8.3% of participants were positive for phase II IgG antibodies (Miernyk et al, ). That study also found a seroprevalence of 11.7% among Alaska Native persons that participated in the study, similar to Pribilof Islands residents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of serum antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in Alaska Native Persons from the Pribilof Islands

Kersh

Fitzpatrick

Pletnikoff

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Background Q fever is a febrile illness caused by infection with the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. It is most often transmitted by inhalation of the bacteria after it is shed by infected livestock. Recent studies have found very high C. burnetii infection rates among marine mammals, but it is not known if shedding by marine mammals creates a risk of Q fever among humans. To better understand infection of humans with exposure to marine mammals, the prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii in serum samples taken from Alaskan Native persons residing on the Pribilof Islands was evaluated. The Pribilof Islands support large populations of northern fur seals infected with C. burnetii that may increase the risk of exposure for island residents. Methods Serum testing for IgG antibodies against C. burnetii (phase I and phase II) was performed, and demographic data were analysed utilizing banked serum specimens drawn from island residents from 1980 to 2000. Results The overall seroprevalence rate was 11.6% (95% CI = 9.3%–14.4%; 72/621). This is higher than the previously reported 3.1% (95% CI = 2.1%–4.3%) seroprevalence for the U.S. population. Conclusions These results suggest that Alaskan Native persons may be at higher risk for exposure to C. burnetii than the general US. population, possibly due to proximity to large populations of infected marine mammals.

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“…For the SSH virus, the primary amplification hosts are snowshoe hares, squirrels and other small mammals, while for the JC virus, they are believed to be wild free-ranging ungulates (Drebot 2015). Even though serological studies have shown that antibodies of both SSH and JC viruses are present in wildlife and people in the Arctic (Zarnke et al 1983;Walters et al 1999;Miernyk et al 2019), there have only been a few reports documenting these viruses in mosquitoes captured in the field (McLean et al 1975(McLean et al , 1977a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New records of California serogroup viruses in Aedes mosquitoes and first detection in simulioidae flies from Northern Canada and Alaska

et al. 2021

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An expected consequence of climate warming is an expansion of the geographical distribution of biting insects and associated arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Emerging and re-emerging arboviruses that can affect human and animal health are likely to pose significant consequences for Northern communities where access to health resources is limited. In the North American Arctic, little is known about arboviruses. Thus, in 2019, we sampled biting insects in Nunavik, Northern Québec (Kuujjuaq), Nunavut (Igloolik, Karrak Lake and Cambridge Bay), Northwest Territories (Igloolik and Yellowknife) and Alaska (Fairbanks). The main objective was to detect the presence of California serogroup (CSG) viruses-a widespread group of arboviruses across North America and that are known to cause a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild febrile illness to fatal encephalitis. Biting insects were captured twice daily for a 7-day period in mid-summer, using a standardised protocol consisting of 100 figure-eight movements of a sweep net. Captured specimens were separated by genus (mosquitoes) or by superfamily (other insects) and then grouped into pools of 75 by geographical locations. In total, 5079 Aedes mosquitoes and 1014 Simulioidae flies were caught. We report the detection of CSG viruses RNA in mosquitoes captured in Nunavut (Karrak Lake) and Nunavik (Kuujjuaq). We also report, for the first time in North America, the presence of CSG viruses RNA in Simulioidae flies. These results highlight the use of biting insects for tracking any future emergence of arboviruses in the North, thereby providing key information for public health in Northern communities.

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Human Seroprevalence to 11 Zoonotic Pathogens in the U.S. Arctic, Alaska

Cited by 18 publications

References 55 publications

Implications of Zoonoses From Hunting and Use of Wildlife in North American Arctic and Boreal Biomes: Pandemic Potential, Monitoring, and Mitigation

Implications of Zoonoses From Hunting and Use of Wildlife in North American Arctic and Boreal Biomes: Pandemic Potential, Monitoring, and Mitigation

Prevalence of serum antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in Alaska Native Persons from the Pribilof Islands

New records of California serogroup viruses in Aedes mosquitoes and first detection in simulioidae flies from Northern Canada and Alaska

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