Outbreak Of Tropical Intestinal Parasite Emerges in Canadian Arctic

Cryptosporidium, a potentially dangerous intestinal parasite common in the tropics, has been spotted for the first time in the Arctic. This could have long-term implications on the health of the community, especially the children.

In April 2013 and April 2014, an outbreak of intestinal illneses spread across 10 villages in Nunavik, Quebec's far north, infecting mostly children under the age of five. Recently, a team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, in collaboration with the Nunavik Department of Public Health, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec and Health Canada was able to identify that the strain was Cryptosporidium hominis, which is spread from human to human and usually found in tropical countries.

Digital Journal notes that Nunavik makes up the northern third of Quebec while Nunavut is Canada's newest territory. The two regions are home to about 49,000 people.

"We were very surprised to discover this strain of Cryptosporidium in the Artic, which is more typically seen in low-income countries than elsewhere in North-America," says the study's senior author, Dr. Cédric Yansouni, in the Mcgill website.

The authors define Cryptosporidium as a microscopic parasite that causes a disease called cryptosporidiosis, which is characterized by diarrhea, cramps and vomiting.

In addition, the parasites commonly live in the intestines of mammals, including humans, and is transmitted by the fecal-oral route from ingestion of contaminated food or water or contact with infected individuals.

CDC say that while those with healthy immune systems can recover from the disease without treatment, those with weaker immune systems are at higher risk of prolonged sickness that may lead to their death if not address properly. Rapid loss of fluids from diarrhea may be especially life threatening to babies.

Because of the risks that the parasite may bring, Yansouni and the team say they are being constantly alert about it.

"We are being particularly vigilant because it is known in low-income countries that repeated Cryptosporidium infections can cause growth delays and difficulty at school in children," Yansouni notes.

Asked how the parasite could have possibly made its way to the Arctic, Yansouni told Montreal Gazatte in a separate interview that it has not been known yet.

"We may never know how it got up there. It's unlikely that initial infection was acquired from animals or contaminated waterways in the region,"

The researchers say the discovery was documented in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. There is a treatment for Cryptosporidiosis in the United States. Howeveer, in Canada, it is only available under a special access program.