Cryptosporidium and Giardia in locally harvested clams in Iqaluit, Nunavut

High prevalences of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were recently found in enteric illness patients in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut, Canada, with a foodborne, waterborne or animal source of parasites suspected. Clams (Mya truncata) are a commonly consumed, culturally important and nutritious countr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zoonoses and public health 2020-06, Vol.67 (4), p.352-361
Main Authors: Manore, Anna J. W., Harper, Sherilee L., Sargeant, Jan M., Weese, J. Scott, Cunsolo, Ashlee, Bunce, Anna, Shirley, Jamal, Sudlovenick, Enooyaq, Shapiro, Karen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bivalvia - parasitology
Clams
Coastal ecology
country food
Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium - isolation & purification
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Digestive glands
DNA
EcoHealth approaches
Feces
Food contamination
Giardia
Giardia - isolation & purification
Haemolymph
Harvesters
Harvesting
Hemolymph
Inuit health
Nucleotide sequence
Nunavut
Parasites
Pathogens
PCR
Protozoa
Public health
Shellfish
Shellfish fisheries
Water - parasitology
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Summary:High prevalences of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were recently found in enteric illness patients in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut, Canada, with a foodborne, waterborne or animal source of parasites suspected. Clams (Mya truncata) are a commonly consumed, culturally important and nutritious country food in Iqaluit; however, shellfish may concentrate protozoan pathogens from contaminated waters. The goal of this work was to investigate clams as a potential source of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in residents in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence and genetically characterize Cryptosporidium and Giardia in locally harvested clams. Clams (n = 404) were collected from Iqaluit harvesters in September 2016. Haemolymph (n = 328) and digestive gland (n = 390) samples were screened for Cryptosporidium and Giardia via PCR, and amplified products were further processed for sequence analyses for definitive confirmation. Giardia DNA was found in haemolymph from 2 clams, while Cryptosporidium was not detected. The two Giardia sequences were identified as zoonotic Giardia enterica assemblage B. The overall prevalence of Giardia in clams near Iqaluit was low (0.6%) compared with other studies in southern Canada and elsewhere. The presence of Giardia DNA in clams suggests human or animal faecal contamination of coastal habitat around Iqaluit in shellfish harvesting waters. Results from this study are intended to inform public health practice and planning in Inuit Nunangat.
ISSN:1863-1959
1863-2378
DOI:10.1111/zph.12693