Locally Acquired Leptospirosis in Expedition Racer, Manitoba, Canada

Kassim, Sameer S.; Dibernardo, Antonia; Lindsay, L. Robbin; Wuerz, Terry

doi:10.3201/eid2412.181015

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 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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“…We defined serological titers as the highest dilution in which 50% agglutination occurred compared to a control suspension. We considered titers ≥ 1:100 positive for exposure to the corresponding serovar (Calle et al, 2002;Colagross-Schouten et al, 2002;Delaney et al, 2014), although in human literature titers ≥ 1:800 are viewed as more conservative and confirmatory of infection (Ahmad et al, 2005;Kassim et al, 2018).…”

Section: Pathogen Surveillancementioning

confidence: 99%

Surveillance for Zoonotic Pathogens and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit of Ringed Seals (nattiit) (Pusa hispida) in Frobisher Bay and Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada

Sudlovenick,

Simonee,

Jones

et al. 2023

ARCTIC

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Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) (nattiq (s.), nattiit (pl.) [Inuktut]) provide an important food staple for Nunavummiut (Indigenous residents of Nunavut). We studied the health of nattiit harvested by hunters from Baffin Island, Nunavut, via Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and veterinary science. We conducted serological surveys and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for select zoonotic pathogens, including Brucella spp., Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Leptospira interrogans, and Toxoplasma gondii, in 55 nattiit from Frobisher Bay (FB) and 58 nattiit from Eclipse Sound (ES). We used a digestion assay to determine the presence of Trichinella spp. larvae in muscle samples from these seals. We conducted interviews with nine Local Knowledge Holders (LKHs) from Iqaluit (FB) and nine from Pond Inlet (ES) to gather their observations about nattiq health. The hunters evaluated nattiq health through a combination of behavior, nutritional condition, and appearance of skin and organs. They rarely observed severely ill nattiit. Hunters from ES but not from FB observed declining nattiit population numbers. In both regions, they observed increased numbers of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica). Frequencies of natural exposure among nattiit from FB and ES, based on seroprevalence, were 20.5% and 37% for Brucella spp., 25% and 11% for E. rhusiopathiae, 93% and 100% for L. interrogans, and 10% and 27% for T. gondii, respectively; PCR was negative for these pathogens in organs and tissues of seropositive animals. We did not detect larvae of Trichinella spp. Knowledge and experience from the LKHs in assessing nattiq health, complemented by negative findings from direct detection methods, provide reassurance about the safety of nattiit as country food, despite their exposure to some zoonotic pathogens in their natural environment.

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Hiding in plain sight: A case of fever, rash, and jaundice

Benoit

Meehan

Chapdelaine

et al. 2019

Official Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and

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A 25-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of fever, anorexia, jaundice, and a generalized skin eruption. His liver function tests showed marked cholestatic and cytolytic abnormalities without liver insufficiency. A liver biopsy was performed, and morphology with routine stains was considered non-specific. Because of the dermatological findings, the non-specific biopsy morphology, and the absence of an identified infectious etiology, a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease was presumed. However, additional colorations on liver biopsy with Warthin–Starry stain revealed multiple thin and coiled microorganisms compatible with spirochetes. His serology for leptospirosis was found to be positive for IgM, supporting the diagnosis of acute leptospirosis with liver involvement. Our case illustrates the diagnostic challenge of leptospirosis and highlights the utility of conventional laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis. Exceptionally, Warthin–Starry stain allowed the identification of leptospires in liver biopsy and confirmed liver involvement of systemic leptospirosis.

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Locally Acquired Leptospirosis in Expedition Racer, Manitoba, Canada

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 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

Surveillance for Zoonotic Pathogens and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit of Ringed Seals (nattiit) (Pusa hispida) in Frobisher Bay and Eclipse Sound, Nunavut, Canada

Hiding in plain sight: A case of fever, rash, and jaundice

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