Seroprevalence of Seven Zoonotic Infections in Nunavik, Quebec (Canada)

Abstract

In Nunavik, common practices and food habits such as consumption of raw meat and untreated water place the Inuit at risk for contracting zoonotic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of seven zoonotic infections among the permanent residents of Nunavik. The study was conducted in the fall 2004 as part of the Nunavik Health Survey. Blood samples from adults aged 18-74 years (n = 917) were collected and analysed for the presence of antibodies against Trichinella spp., Toxocara canis, Echinococcus granulosus, Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira spp. and Francisella tularensis. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, traditional activities, drinking water supply and nutrition was gathered using english/inuktitut bilingual questionnaires. The chi-squared test was used to evaluate associations between seropositivity and other measured variables. Statistically significant variables were included in a multivariate logistic regression model to control for confounding factors. Estimated seroprevalences were 8.3% for E. granulosus, 3.9% for T. canis, 5.9% for Leptospira spp. and 18.9% for F. tularensis. Seroprevalence was ≤ 1% for Trichinella spiralis, Brucella spp. and C. burnetii. For most infections, seropositivity tended to increase with age. In multivariate analyses, seroprevalence was positively (i.e. directly) associated with age and residence in the Ungava coast area for F. tularensis; age and residence in the Hudson coast area for T. canis; female gender, lower level of schooling and frequent cleaning of water reservoirs for E. granulosus. No risk factor for Leptospira spp. infection was identified. No associations were detected with regards to food habits or environmental exposures. A small but significant portion of the Nunavik population has serologic evidence of exposure to at least one of the pathogenic microorganisms investigated. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms for transmission of zoonotic infections and their potential reservoirs in Nunavik.

People, Pets, and Parasites: One Health Surveillance in Southeastern Saskatchewan

“…One possibility is that dog owners have higher awareness of the risks associated with contamination of the environment with dog feces, or higher awareness of the need for hand hygiene. Results from this study did not identify gender, age, or hunting/trapping as important risk factors for E. canadensis exposure as reported previously, 6,17,25 which could be caused by the low sample size. However, our findings are similar to a related project conducted in a nearby SK community.…”

“…Antibodies to Trichinella are thought to persist for 9-18 months, whereas those for E. canadensis and T. canis could be lifelong. 17 We observed a variety of potentially zoonotic parasites in dog feces collected from the environment in the community, including T. canis, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia. Although the number of fecal samples obtained in 2011 and 2013 was low, the combined prevalence (21 of 51; 41%) is comparable to endoparasite levels in canine fecal samples collected from the ground in other Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan.…”

“…6 The sero-prevalence for Trichinella in the current study (3%) was low, similar to that reported in Inuit and Cree communities (0-1%) elsewhere in Canada, but lower than that reported in a Dene community in northwestern Saskatchewan (16%). 11,13,17,18 In other Dene communities in northern Saskatchewan, outbreaks of trichinellosis associated with consumption of black bear have been reported. 4 Saultaux cultural practices, which include cooking game and avoiding consumption of bear meat, are likely the primary reason for low Trichinella levels in this community.…”

How does the media portray drinking water security in Indigenous communities in Canada? An analysis of Canadian newspaper coverage from 2000-2015

“…For instance, untreated water was a suspected source of Giardia infection accounting for 29% of notifiable gastrointestinal illness in the Northwest Territories [25]. Furthermore, about a third of residents of the Nunavik Inuit region consume untreated water, placing some Inuit at increased risk for waterborne gastroenteritis [26, 27]. Water quality challenges have also attracted widespread media coverage, including the discovery of Escherichia coli in the water supply in Kashechewan, Ontario, where the combination of flooding and contaminated water led to the evacuation of nearly half of the Kashechewan First Nation, illustrating the consequences of insufficient water infrastructure in some Indigenous communities [28, 29].…”

Locally Acquired Leptospirosis in Expedition Racer, Manitoba, Canada

“…Leptospirosis has been detected in beavers, coyotes, deer, foxes, opossums, and otters in Canada and is especially prevalent in raccoons and skunks in urban and rural environments ( 8 , 9 ). There are limited published data on endemic leptospirosis in Canada, but sylvatic exposures have been reported among hunters, trappers, and indigenous peoples; the most northern exposure was identified in the Nunavik region of Quebec ( 10 ). …”