By Susan Pyakurel
An important part of wildlife conservation and management in Nunavik involves understanding wildlife health and diseases. For many years, the Nunavik Research Centre (NRC) in Kuujjuaq, which is part of Makivvik’s Department of Environment, Wildlife and Research (DEWR), has worked to build local expertise in wildlife health.
Over the years, NRC has evolved significantly in its ability to understand and research wildlife diseases, with earlier projects in the ‘90s, such as the Nunavik Trichinosis Prevention Program (NTPP) and its current Community-based Wildlife Disease Surveillance Program.
Who works at NRC?
NRC has a team of professionals who study wildlife health from various perspectives while also incorporating Inuit Knowledge. The team includes:
– Wildlife disease specialist: Studies animal diseases and pathogens
– Wildlife technicians: Support scientists in laboratory and field activities
– Environmental toxicologist: Studies environmental contami-nants and wildlife health
– Fish biologist: Studies overall biology of fish including habitat and movement
– NRC manager: Oversees NRC’s activities and staff
– Executive secretary: Provides administrative support
What happens when an animal is submitted to NRC?
NRC has a dedicated pathology laboratory, which is certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), a toxicology lab, primarily used for environmental contaminant analyses, and a wet lab, mainly used for fish-related research.
When a wildlife sample is received at NRC, a detailed record of the animal, where and how it was found, and the contact details of the person who submitted it is collected.
The first step is usually a necropsy, which is an examination of the animal after death. Sometimes the cause of illness can be identified right away by examining the animal, and if so, NRC shares the results with the person who submitted the animal using their preferred contact method (mostly email or phone).
If more testing is needed, NRC may use the following laboratory tools for diagnosis:
– PCR (Polymerase chain reaction): To detect the genes of specific pathogens in the submitted samples
– ELISA: To determine whether an animal has been exposed to certain diseases by looking at signs of the animal’s body response
– DNA sequencing: To study the genetic makeup of disease-causing organisms in the submitted wildlife samples
– Walrus Trichinella testing: To test walrus tongues for Trichinella, a parasite that can make people sick.
For this, the tip of walrus tongue, where the parasites usually live, is turned into a soup using special chemicals and glass equipment. This allows the parasite to settle down at the bottom of the glass equipment from where it can be collected and examined under a microscope. Results are shared with the communities within 24 hours after the sample is received.
– Environmental contaminant testing: NRC’s toxicology laboratory contains a highly specialized machine called an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This equipment can measure any minerals, metals, and contaminants in wildlife samples at the same time.
NRC can also collect environmental DNA (eDNA) from water and land to identify animals, plants, and disease-causing organisms living in the environment.
NRC collaborates with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) and the University of Montreal for testing of highly infectious diseases like bird flu and rabies.
What are the current projects in wildlife health?
– Community-based wildlife disease surveillance program (2024-27):
This project is co-funded by Makivvik and will help NRC work with Anguvigait managers, Nunavik hunters, and researchers to collect wildlife samples and monitor wildlife diseases. Its goal is to establish a long-term relationship between NRC and Anguvigait managers for studying wildlife health in Nunavik and increase NRC’s capacity to diagnose wildlife diseases locally. For this purpose, this project provides training on the effective use of wildlife disease sampling kits to collect wildlife samples.
– Marine mammal health monitoring program (2025-27):
This project is co-funded by Makivvik and will help understand the health of marine mammals in Nunavik and document Inuit Knowledge about marine mammal health. For this purpose, Anguivigait managers will work closely with NRC to submit marine mammal samples. Also, Nunavik hunters will be interviewed to document their knowledge on marine mammal health and what they think can indicate health status of marine mammals.
– Phycotoxin monitoring project (2026-28):
Funded by New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) and ArcticNet, this project will study toxins produced by some algae found in summer. When some specific types of algae bloom in coastal waters in summer, they produce toxins, which can move through the food web into shellfish, mussels, and clams and cause symptoms when eaten. This project aims to detect and measure these toxins in seafood collected from Nunavik.
– Advancing genomics-based biomonitoring in Nunavik (2026-27):
Funded by ArcticNet, this project will help NRC researchers collaborate with the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA) in Calgary to share ideas. Researchers from NRC and AINA will explore how genetics and genomics can help monitor wildlife diseases and detect new pathogens that may move north due to climate change.
What are other activities NRC routinely does on wildlife diseases?
Every two months, NRC publishes a visual infographic about wildlife health. These infographics share information about wildlife health, wildlife diseases, research findings, and ongoing NRC activities and projects. A copy of these infographics can be requested from NRC or the local Anguvigait managers, if required.
NRC also works with schools across Nunavik to help students learn about wildlife health and diseases. In addition, NRC is preparing a visual pocket-sized guidebook on wildlife diseases in Nunavik. This guidebook will help community members recognize signs of disease in Nunavik wildlife and report concerns to NRC.
NRC and its staff are here to serve Nunavik. If you would like to learn more about wildlife health and diseases or share research ideas, please visit the Nunavik Research Centre or contact us at rcentre@makivvik.ca. We would be happy to answer your questions and help arrange a visit!
