title: Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in seals around Hokkaido, Japan.
abstract: Serological analysis was performed to detect Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in seals in Hokkaido. Serum samples were collected from 322 Kuril harbor seals (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri) at Nosappu, Akkeshi and Erimo, from 46 spotted seals (P. largha) at Nosappu, Erimo, Yagishiri Island, Hamamasu and Syakotan, and from 4 ribbon seals (P. fasciata) and a bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) at Nosappu between 1998 and 2006. Recombinant surface antigen of T. gondii (SAG2t) and N. caninum (NcSAG1t) were used as antigens for ELISA to detect antibodies. Antibodies against SAG2t were detected from 4% of 77 Kuril harbor seals at Nosappu in 2005. Antibodies against NcSAG1t were detected from 2% (1/66) in 2003, 5% (4/79) in 2004 and 10% (8/77) in 2005 of Kuril harbor seals and 11% of 9 spotted seals in 2004 sampled at Nosappu. Eight percent of 12 Kuril harbor seals from Akkeshi and 25% of 4 spotted seals from Erimo in 2005 also contained antibodies against NcSAG1t. These suggest sporadic infection of T. gondii and N. caninum in Kuril harbor seals and spotted seals in Hokkaido. Of the ELISA-positive seals, 2 seals having anti-SAG2t antibodies and 3 seals having anti-NcSAG1t antibodies in 2005 were judged to be juveniles that have no maternal antibodies. These suggest that the protozoan infections have occurred in recent years. Infection of terrestrial protozoa such as T. gondii and N. caninum in seals indicates that the sea environment has been contaminated with protozoa.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Wildlife Biology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kakumoto
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kariya
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Xuenan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046049:Phoca / Q000469:parasitology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C115390:SAG1 protein, Neospora caninum; C067547:surface antigen P22, Toxoplasma