Assessing risks of toxoplasmosis in wildlife in the Canadian North

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Awareness of the risks posed by the emergence of wildlife diseases (such as avian influenza) is at an all time high, but the scientific basis for assessing these risks is often lacking. Therefore, the objective of my research program is to develop a strong scientific foundation for assessing and mitigating the risks posed by emerging wildlife diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, which is likely introduced and maintained in the terrestrial Arctic by migratory wildlife. Toxoplasmosis is particularly important in the Canadian North, where Inuit have triple the North American rate of exposure to toxoplasmosis. As well, northern and indigenous Canadians in general have rising rates of immunocompromising diseases that may lead to higher rates of clinical and congenital toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may also cause mortality and decreased reproductive success in northern wildlife important to indigenous and northern Canadians for harvest, socioeconomic, and cultural reasons. Therefore, my program will address: 1) How important are migratory wildlife as a mechanism for disease introduction and transmission? Using multiple immunological and molecular techniques, I will determine diversity and transmission dynamics of toxoplasmosis in migratory and resident wildlife in the North, and compare this with wildlife, domestic animals, and people elsewhere. 2) What life history strategies of parasites enable successful establishment in harsh environments? Through survival and infectivity experiments, I will determine if strains of toxoplasmosis in northern wildlife possess unique biological characteristics (such as cold tolerance). 3) How do wildlife diseases affect wildlife themselves, at the individual and population levels? Controlled experimental infection of captive wildlife with toxoplasmosis and mark-recapture studies in the field will determine associations among infection status, behavior, body condition, survival, and reproductive success. My research program will provide better understanding of the biology of an important disease, develop a novel approach to detecting, assessing, and communicating risks posed by the emergence of wildlife diseases, and will benefit wildlife managers, public health personnel, and northern and indigenous communities.