Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Epidemiology of Toxoplasma and Trichinella in wildlife of Svalbard  (Toxoplasma Trichinella Svalbard)

Outline
The parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella nativa are significant zoonotic infective agents of the Arctic, causing toxoplasmosis and trichinellosis, respectively. Humans are infected by consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected animals. Toxoplasmosis and trichinellosis are threats particularly to people of the arctic reliant on wildlife. Outbreaks of trichinellosis and toxoplasmosis regularly occur, often resulting in serious human health problems. Global warming is predicted to facilitate northward migration of wildlife parasites. Trichinella nativa, the only species resistant to freezing, is the only one hitherto found in the Arctic. It may be predicted that with global warming, also other Trichinella species will be able to establish and cause trichinellosis in the Arctic. Northerns demand programs which will provide greater security in the safety of country foods and programs that ensure the long-term sustainability of wildlife populations. There are currently existing initiatives such as the Nunavik and Nunavut Trichinellosis Prevention Programs, with an additional purpose to enhance the science and broaden the present scope of services and capacity building within the local communities (ref.: IPY Coordination proposal Activity ID no. 186). Baseline data regarding the current sitiation with respect to Trichinella and Toxoplasma in arctic wildlife populations are needed, also for the assessment and prediction of wildlife health impacts resulting from the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors associated with climate change and exposure to anthropogenic contaminants. The terrestrial ecosystem of Svalbard is simple with respect to number of animal species, with four terrestrial warm-blooded animals living the year-round on Svalbard; arctic fox, Svalbard ptarmigan, Svalbard reindeer and sibling vole. There are also dogs and some cats associated with human settlements. Marine mammals include seal species, several harbouring Trichinella and Toxoplasma, and polar bear, also an important host for Trichinella. The ecosystem of Svalbard, with its relatively limited number of potential host species, makes this ideal for more detailed studies of spread of these parasites. During 2007 - 2009, we propose as our overall objectives, as part of IPY 186: 1. Contribute to document distribution and abundance of Toxoplasma and Trichinella in wildlife of Svalbard, verify which species of Trichinella is present, and to verify which genotype(s) of Toxoplasma are present. 2. Contribute to development of detection capacity of Trichinella and Toxoplasma, including development/refinement of diagnostic tests for Trichinella and Toxoplasma, for use by Northerns in the communities to increase turn-around time between sample submission and pathogen diagnosis.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
1) Document distribution, abundance and species (genetic) type of Trichinella and Toxoplasma on Svalbard. 2) Participate in development of community (Northerns of Canada and Greenland) capacity for ongoing detection and monitoring of above zoonotic pathogens in order to provide the Northerns rapid information regarding the safety of harvested country foods, and in order to broaden the present scope of services and capacity building within the communities (ref. IPY No. 186, already endorsed Coordination proposal).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Denmark, Poland, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Finland, Norway (IPY 186).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Svalbard (Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund, Grumant, Barentsburg).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/07 – 09/07      06/08 – 09/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Existing field station (Ny-Ålesund, Norwegian Polar Institute)

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
As described for IPY 186, this project will contribute in enhancing the capacity of existing infrastructures and to facilitate Northerners community-based monitoring programs.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
Own support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
No

How will the project be organised and managed?
The International Wildlife Arctic Parasitology (IWAP3) meeting in 2006 (Calgary, Canada) will give us the opportuninity to meet with participants of IPY 186. At that meeting, a steering committee will be created to discuss plans and divide responsibilities. Locally (this project), will be organized with work and laboratory facilities in Tromsø (Norwegian School of Veterinary Science and National Veterinary Institute of Norway, Tromsø regional unit), with collaborative links the Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, and the National Veterinary and Food Research Institute of Finland (EELA), Oulu regional unit, Finland. In the full proposal for IPY 186, it is described the organizing of four groups. It feels appropriate for us to contribute mostly to group 2) “Zoonosis monitoring group”, and 4) Development of new diagnostic techniques” group (IPY 186, section 3.2).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
As part of IPY 186, the project will contribute to education, outreach and communication issues as outlined there.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Contribute to issues outlined in Full Proposal IPY 186.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Application to the Norwegian Research Council.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The lead contact of this EoI has contact with the Lead contact of the already endorsed Coordination proposal IPY Activity Id. No. 186, Ms Manon Simard, who is interested in collaboration. The intention is thus to make a connection of our project to this existing proposal. The project members listed below have all agreed to be part of this collaboration project.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Associate professor, dr Kjetil Åsbakk
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH), Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology (MatInf), Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine.
Stakkevollveien 23B, P.o.box 6204
NO-9292 Tromsø
Norway

Tel: +47 77665400
Mobile: +47 97667449
Fax: +47 77694911
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation