Serosurvey for Trichinella in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard and the Barents Sea.
Blood samples of live-caught polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard collected 1991-2000 (Period 1) and 2006-2008 (Period 2) and from the pack ice of the Barents Sea collected in Period 1, were assayed for antibodies against Trichinella spp. by ELISA. Of 54 cubs-of-the-year included in the Period 1 sample, 53 were seronegative, indicating that exposure to Trichinella infected meat is uncommon during the first months of life for polar bears in the Svalbard region. Of 30 mother-offspring pairs, 18 mothers were seropositive with seronegative offspring (n=27), suggesting (1) that maternal antibodies had dropped to levels below detection limit by the time of capture in April (offspring approximately 4 months old), and (2) supporting experimental studies in other animal models showing that vertical transmission of Trichinella spp. is uncommon. Bear 1 year and older had higher prevalence in Svalbard (78%) than in the Barents Sea (51%). There was no temporal change in prevalence for bears from Svalbard during the time between the two periods. The prevalence increased with age in both sexes. A positive correlation was found between anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Trichinella spp. antibodies.
Asbakk
Kjetil
K
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Stakkevollveien 23, N-9010 Tromsø, Norway. kjetil.aasbakk@nvh.no
Aars
Jon
J
Derocher
Andrew E
AE
Wiig
Oystein
O
Oksanen
Antti
A
Born
Erik W
EW
Dietz
Rune
R
Sonne
Christian
C
Godfroid
Jacques
J
Kapel
Christian M O
CM
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013538:Svalbard / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D014234:Trichinella / Q000276:immunology; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D001503:Ursidae / Q000469:parasitology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan