Title
Zoonotic parasites in Natsiq (ringed seals).
Fiscal Year
2020-2021
Community/Region
Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq, Kanigqsujuaq and Inukjuak, Nunavik, Quebec
Principal Investigator
Dr. Emily Jenkins (University of Saskatchewan)
Community Project Lead
Géraldine-G. Gouin (Nunavik Research Center (NRC), Makivvik Corporation)
Project Members
Frankie Jean-Gagnon and Brent Dixon
Project Summary
Hunters in Nunavik, an area of 14 villages in northern Quebec, were concerned with the health status of the natsiq (ringed seal), an animal frequently consumed by Inuit. The hunters observed changes to the health of the natsiq and a decline in their numbers, and were concerned of possible health risks from consuming natsiq meat. The Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board (NMRWB) established a natsiq monitoring program with four communities: Inukjuak, Tasiujaq, Kuujjuaq and Kangiqsujuaq. The overall objective of this project was to create recommendations regarding consumption of natsiq meat to the Nunavik Health board, and to improve food security for Nunavimmiut. Further objectives of this project were to develop a partnership between hunters and the Nunavik Research Centre (NRC, Makivvik corporation) to enable them to detect parasites in organs usually eaten raw, and build capacity in the NRC to perform molecular analyzes to study the prevalence of two zoonotic parasites.
Hunters sent 28 samples of nastiq to the project team containing multiple organs for analysis for Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella nativa. The project team held workshops and conducted phone surveys with the 10 hunters who sent samples to explore their nastiq consumption patterns and their concerns with the health of the seals.
The analysis found 20% of natsiq muscle samples were infected with Toxoplasma gondii. The samples of all livers were negative. No Trichinella nativa was detected in this project. The phone survey results indicated that 60% of the participants ate raw nastiq meat and all respondents brought the raw meat to the community. Therefore, the consumption of raw seal could be higher amongst community members. Almost all respondents were not concerned about diseases or sickness in natsiq but all except two respondents noticed parasites in the harvested seals. All respondents reported feeling natsiq was as healthy as usual, or even healthier. During one of the workshops, participants requested that we also test for Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum. Protocols as still being developed to add those parasites in the analysis.
Although is it still too soon to make recommendations to the Nunavik Health board, this project is showing great promises in terms of surveillance and is now part on an on-going monitoring operation conducted at the NRC. This project has allowed the NRC to start doing molecular analysis which is improving Inuit Nunangat Research sustainability.