Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) from the Canadian Arctic.
Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined in 147 barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) from 5 herds in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, northern Canada, by the modified agglutination test (MAT). In the mainland herds (Bluenose, Bathurst, and Beverly), antibodies were found in 43 (37%) of 117 caribou, and MAT titers were 1:25 in 10, 1:50 in 24, and 1:500 in 9. In the island herds, only 1 (4.3%) of 23 animals sampled from the North Baffin Island herd was positive (titer = 1:25) and no antibodies were detected in 7 caribou from the Dolphin and Union herd. The high prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in the mainland caribou herds indicates that caribou meat may contain viable T. gondii.
Kutz
S J
SJ
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Elkin
B T
BT
Panayi
D
D
Dubey
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015873:Northwest Territories / Q000453:epidemiology; D020957:Nunavut / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012053:Reindeer / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan