Animal-Related Research in the Arctic With a Focus on Animal Health and Zoonotic Disease: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

The Arctic is habitat for a range of animal species, many of which are consumed by Indigenous Peoples and are central to Indigenous food sovereignty. Country food (locally harvested food from the land, sea and sky) is nutritious, and harvesting country food is an important cultural activity, making understanding of potential zoonotic disease exposure an important concern for public health. The objective of this scoping review was to describe the animal-related research in the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada and Greenland, with a focus on zoonotic pathogens in animals and humans. Overall, 3072 articles described animal-related research, with common topics including animal health, environmental contaminants in animals and animal population estimates, whereas few articles included a consideration of Indigenous Knowledges. Parasites were the most common type of zoonotic pathogens studied, with terrestrial and marine mammals the most studied species groups. Trichinella and Toxoplasma were the most commonly studied zoonotic parasites in both animals and humans. Brucella spp., Leptospira interogans and Francisella tularensis were commonly studied bacterial zoonoses in the animal health literature, whereas Clostridium botulinum (and toxin) was the most studied zoonoses in humans related to bacteria from animals. Rabies or exposure to rabies was the most common zoonotic virus studied in both animals and humans. Common objectives for both animal health and human health studies included estimating prevalence, identifying risk factors and describing morbidity or mortality. Studies estimating disease incidence or evaluating the effectiveness of interventions were uncommon. Climate change considerations were increasingly being included as a study component over time. In conclusion, although there is a substantive body of research on animal and zoonotic health in these regions of the Arctic, further engagement with Indigenous Knowledges and more focused study on disease prevention and intervention are crucial for safeguarding both wildlife and human health in this unique environment.