Toxoplasma gondii and related parasites in beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) harvested as country foods by Inuit hunters in Nunavut, Canada

Toxoplasma gondii is a very common zoonotic parasite in humans and animals worldwide. Human seroprevalence is particularly high in some regions of Canada's North and is thought to be associated with the consumption of traditionally prepared country foods. Many of the wild mammal and bird species consumed as country foods have been reported to be positive for T. gondii by either molecular or serological methods. Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) are commonly harvested and consumed by Inuit in the Canadian Arctic, but only a few studies have reported the prevalence of T. gondii, or related parasites, in these animals. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of T. gondii, Sarcocystis spp., and Neospora caninum in available tissues (brain and spleen) of belugas harvested by Inuit hunters in the communities of Sanikiluaq and Arviat, Nunavut, Canada, to estimate the potential for foodborne transmission. Based on PCR and DNA sequencing, 31.3% of the 16 belugas tested were positive for T. gondii Type III and 43.8% were positive for Sarcocystis spp. DNA from both of these parasites was detected predominantly in brain tissue. Neospora caninum DNA was not detected in any of the belugas tested. The detection of T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. DNA in brain and spleen of belugas suggests a potential food safety risk to those consuming these animals raw.