ArcticEID – community-based wildlife surveillance

Project overview

Emerging zoonoses in wildlife: Understanding the ecology, transmission and impacts of Brucella and Erysipelothrix for conservation and food security in the changing Arctic (ArcticEID)

Nouvelles zoonoses chez les espèces sauvages : comprendre l’écologie, la transmission et les répercussions de Brucella et Erysipelothrix pour la conservation et la sécurité alimentaire dans la région arctique en pleine évolution (ArcticEID)

Nuivalliayut aanniarutit anngutighanit: Qauhimattiaqhugu nauyut, hangutaqtut mihingnautillu Brucella-mik Erysipelothrix-miklu hapummihimayaamik niqighaqhimaaqariamiklu aallannguqpalliayumi Ukiuqtaqtumi (ArcticEID)

ᓴᖅᑭᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᓂᖏᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓃᑦᑐᑦ: ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓂᖅ ᐆᒪᔪᑦ ᓇᔪᒐᖏᑕ ᓯᓚᑎᖏᑕᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑑᓂᖏᑦ, ᖁᐱᕐᕈᑖᑦᑎᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᑦ (Brucella ᐊᒻᒪᓗ Erysipelothrix) ᐱᐅᖅᓱᐊᓂᕐᒨᖓᔪᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᓂᕿᔅᓴᖃᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓪᓚᕆᑦᑐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ (ArcticEID)

Two important bacteria have recently emerged in Inuit Nunangat which pose serious risks to the sustainability of muskox and caribou populations upon which communities depend. Moreover, they represent a public health risk for those handling or consuming country foods. We aim to bring together Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and western knowledge to gain a better understanding of these diseases and how they are impacted by climate change, and then use this knowledge to protect human health and inform wildlife management. Ultimately, this project will increase capacity at the community level to detect and respond to emerging wildlife diseases; increase food security and safety; generate data to promote wildlife sustainability; and contribute to the translation and dissemination of Indigenous knowledge and its integration into research and management.

Project location

Locations where work is being carried out: Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories; Kugluktuk & Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

I bring a bacterial genomics background to the project. Trying to get to the root of why the occurrence of these two diseases is increasing in caribou and muskoxen is so intriguing. To answer this, it will truly take a multitude of approaches, which is what this team brings together.

Taya Forde

Principal Investigator, University of Glasgow

Project images

People involved in the project, taken inside the Cambridge Bay Research facility
Official project launch meeting, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut (October 18, 2022). Photo: McCaide Wooten.
A picture containing mountain, outdoor, water, mammal
Muskoxen on Fosheim Peninsula, Ellesmere Island (August, 2022). Photo: Taya Forde.

Summary

Scientitsts sitting around a screen with an image inside a small meeting room
Photo courtesy of Caide Wooten

The Arctic is experiencing unprecedented climate change, resulting in multiple interconnected challenges for the wellbeing of northern communities. Among these is disease emergence, including those that affect both animals and people.

Two important bacteria have recently emerged in Inuit Nunangat, both of which pose serious risks to the sustainability of muskox and caribou populations upon which communities depend. Moreover, they pose a potential public health risk for those handling or consuming country foods.

Using a multi-pronged approach, we aim to bring together Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and western knowledge to gain a better understanding of these diseases and how they are impacted by climate change. We will then use this knowledge to protect human health and inform wildlife stewardship.

Our main objectives are to:

  1. understand why these diseases have increased;
  2. understand and predict what risk they pose to people and animals; and
  3. develop mitigation strategies to protect human health and conserve wildlife for generations to come.

Ultimately, this project will increase capacity at the community level to detect and respond to emerging wildlife diseases; increase food security and safety; generate data to support wildlife stewardship; and contribute to the translation and dissemination of Indigenous knowledge and its integration into research and management.

L’Arctique connaît des changements climatiques sans précédent, ce qui occasionne de multiples défis interconnectés pour le bien-être des communautés nordiques. Parmi celles-ci figure l’émergence de maladies, notamment celles qui touchent à la fois les animaux et les humains.

Deux bactéries importantes ont récemment fait leur apparition dans l’Inuit Nunangat. Toutes deux présentent des risques sérieux pour la durabilité des populations de bœufs musqués et de caribous dont dépendent les communautés. En outre, elles représentent un risque pour la santé publique, associé à la manipulation ou à la consommation des aliments traditionnels.

Grâce à une approche multidimensionnelle, nous souhaitons réunir les connaissances traditionnelles inuites et occidentales afin de mieux comprendre ces maladies et les répercussions des changements climatiques sur celles-ci. Nous utiliserons ensuite ces connaissances pour protéger la santé humaine et éclairer la gestion de la faune.

Nos principaux objectifs sont les suivants:

  1. comprendre pourquoi le nombre de ces maladies a augmenté;
  2. comprendre et prévoir le risque qu’elles représentent pour les personnes et les animaux;
  3. élaborer des stratégies d’atténuation pour protéger la santé humaine et conserver la faune sauvage pour les générations à venir.

En fin de compte, ce projet rendra les communautés mieux en mesure de détecter de nouvelles maladies touchant la faune et d’y faire face, accroîtra la sécurité et la sûreté alimentaires, permettra de générer des données pour soutenir l’intendance de la faune et contribuera à la traduction et à la diffusion des connaissances autochtones et à leur intégration dans la recherche et la gestion.

Ukiuqtaqtumi ingattaumayumik hila aallannguqpalliayumik ilitturivallialiqtut, taimaa amihuuyut atatayut ayuqhautit inuuhiqattiarniqmut ukiuqtaqtumi nunallaarnut. Hapkununnga ilauyut aanniarutit nuivalliayut, taapkualu ikpingnautauyut anngutighanut inungnullu.

Malruk aghuurnaqtut halumailruit nauyuktut nuihimaliqtut Inuit Nunanganit, tamangnik amirnautauyut aulattiarnianut umingmait tuktuillu nunallaarmiut niqighariyainik. Ingattauyuqlu, amirnautauyut inungnut aanniaqtailiniqmut niqiliqiyuktunut niriyuktunullu niqainnarnik.

Amihunik havauhiqaqhutik, katitirinahuaqtugut Inuit Qauhimayatuqait ualinirmiullu qauhimayatuqait ilihimattiarahuariamik hapkua aanniarutit qanuqlu ikpiguhuutiqariaghainik hila aallannguqpalliayumi.

Taapkua qauhimayauliqtut munaqhiutigiyauniaqtut inungnik aanniaqtailiniqmut qauhitilugillu anngutighanik munaqtiuyut. Inirumalluaqtaqqut taapkua

  1. ilihimattiariamik huuq hapkua aanniarutit amigaiqpaalliqtut;
  2. ilihimattiariamik naahuriyaamiklu qanuq amirnautauyaaghait inungnut anngutighanullu; taimaalu
  3. ihuaqhautighaqhiuqlutik amiriyaamik inuit aanniaqtailiniqmit hapummihimanahuaqlugit anngutighat qatanngutiptingnut hivunighami.

Nakuuniqhakkut, hapkua havaaghat amigaiqpaalliutauniaqtuq havaktighanik nunallaarmiunik paqittiyaamik kiuhiyaamiklu nuivalliayunut anngutighanit aanniarutinik; niqighaqaqtittiyaamik amirnaiqhimayaamiklu; naunaitkutaghaliuqlutik ikayuutighait annguhiqiyit; ikayuqtiulutiklu numiktiriniqmik qauhipkainiqmiklu Nunaqaqqaaqhimayut qauhimayatuqait katitiriyaamiklu qauyihaiyaanut munaqtainullu.

ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑐᖅᑕᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᐅᖏᑦᑐᐊᓗᒻᒥ ᓯᓚ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᓂᖓᓐᓂ, ᐊᒥᓱᓂᔾᓗ

ᐊᓱᕈᓐᓇᖅᑐᑕᖃᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᖅᑐᑎᑦ ᐃᓅᓇᓱᐊᑦᑎᐊᕐᓂᑎᓐᓂ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᖏᓐᓂ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊᕌᓘᒐᓗᐊᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᓕᖅᑐᑦ, ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᓂᕐᔪᑏᑦ ᐃᓄᓪᓗ. ᒪᕐᕉᒻᒪᑎᒃ ᐱᓚᕆᐅᔪᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐊᕐᔪᕐᓂᑦ ᓴᖅᑭᖅᓯᒪᓕᖅᑑᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ, ᑕᒪᒃᑮᒃ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᓯᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᐅᓚᑕᐅᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓄᑦ ᐅᒥᒻᒪᓄᑦ ᑐᑦᑐᓄᓪᓗ ᐊᒥᓲᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᒪᓕᑦᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓄᑦ ᐊᑦᑐᐊᓂᖏᓐᓂ. ᐊᒻᒪᓗᒃᑲᓐᓂᖅ, ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᑎᒥᖏᑦ

ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᒻᒥᔪᑦ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᖃᑦᑕᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᓂᕿᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓅᓕᑕᖅᑐᖅᑕᐅᕙᑦᑐᑦ. ᐊᒥᓱᓂᒃ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᓂ ᐊᕕᑦᑐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᑐᕌᒐᒋᓕᕋᑦᑎᒍ ᑲᑎᑎᒋᐊᖏᑕ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᑦ ᖃᓪᓗᓈᓪᓗ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᒋᒃᑲᓂᕐᓂᐊᕋᑦᑎᒍ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᕐᓂᑦ ᖃᓄᕐᓗ ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓯᒪᒻᒪᖔᑕ ᓯᓚ

ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓕᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐊᑐᕐᓗᑎᒍ ᐸᖅᑭᑎᔾᔪᑎᒋᓕᕐᓗᑎᒍ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑎᒥᖏᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᖁᓇᒋᑦ

ᑐᓴᐅᒪᑎᑦᑎᐊᕐᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᓂᕐᔪᑏᑦ ᒥᔅᓵᓄᑦ ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᕆᐊᖃᕐᓂᖏᓐᓄᑦ. ᑐᕌᒐᕆᓪᓗᐊᖅᑕᕗᑦ ᐅᑯᐊ 1) ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᑦᑎᐊᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᓱᒻᒪᑦ ᖃᓂᒪᓇᐃᑦ ᖁᐱᕐᕈᐃᑦ ᐊᒥᓱᕈᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕐᒪᖔᑕ; 2) ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᓗᒋᑦ

ᒥᔅᓴᐅᓴᓪᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᐅᓗᕆᐊᓇᖅᑎᒋᒍᓐᓇᕐᒪᖓ ᐃᓄᓐᓄᑦ ᐆᒪᔪᓄᓪᓗ; ᐊᒻᒪᓗ 3) ᐋᖅᑮᓗᑕ ᐱᐅᓯᕚᓪᓕᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᔅᓴᓂᒃ ᐸᕐᓇᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐸᖅᑭᑦᑎᐊᕈᒪᓗᒋᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᑎᒥᖏᑦ

ᖃᓄᐃᓐᖏᑦᑎᐊᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐱᐅᖅᓱᐊᕐᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᓂᕐᔪᑏᑦ ᑭᖑᕚᑦᑎᓐᓅᑦ ᐊᕗᖔᓘᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ. ᑕᐃᒪᓕ, ᑖᓐᓇ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᔅᓴᖅ

ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕋᐃᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᒍᓇᓕᕋᔭᖅᑐᑦ ᓄᓇᓖᑦ ᖃᓄᑎᒋ

ᐱᑕᖃᓕᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᖃᓄᕐᓗ ᑲᒪᒋᔭᐅᒋᐊᖃᓕᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᑕ ᓂᕐᔪᑏᑦ ᖃᓂᒪᔪᑦ; ᓂᕿᔅᓴᖃᑦᑎᐊᓂᖅᓴᐅᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ

ᐊᑦᑕᓇᓐᖏᑦᑑᓗᑎᑦ; ᑐᓴᐅᒪᔭᔅᓴᓂᓪᓗ ᐱᑕᖃᕐᓗᓂ ᖃᓄᖅ ᓂᕐᔪᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᑦᑎᐊᓂᖅᓴᐅᒍᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᒪᖔᑦᑕ; ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᑲᔪᕐᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᑐᑭᒧᐊᑦᑕᑦᑎᐊᕐᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᕆᒃᑲᓂᕐᓗᒋᓪᓗ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑐᒥᓃᑦ ᖃᐅᒪᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑲᑎᖅᓱᕐᓗᒋᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᐅᓚᑦᑎᓂᐅᔪᓪᓗ.

Sea, buildings and snow, with a colourful sky
Cambridge Bay. Photo: Caide Wooten

People

Principal investigators

Susan Kutz

Principal Investigator

University of Calgary

More about Susan Kutz

Taya Forde

Principal Investigator

University of Glasgow

More about Taya Forde

Co-investigators and collaborators