"Emerging" parasitic infections in arctic ungulates

Important drivers for emergence of infectious disease in wildlifeinclude changes in the environment, shrinking habitats or concentrationof wildlife, and movement of people, animals, pathogens, orvectors. In this paper we present three case-studies of emergingparasitic infections and diseases in ungulates in the Canadiannorth. First we discuss climate warming as an important driverfor the emergence of disease associated with Umingmakstrongyluspallikuukensis, a nematode lungworm of muskoxen. Then we examinehow Protostrongylus stilesi, the sheep lungworm, emerged (orre-emerged) in muskoxen after re-introduction of this host intoits historical range made it sympatric with Dall's sheep. Finally,we consider Teladorsagia boreoarcticus, a newly described andcommon abomasal nematode of muskoxen that is emerging as a disease-causingparasite and may be an important regulator for muskox populationson Banks Island, Northwest Territories. These and other arctichost-parasite systems are exquisitely tuned and constrainedby a harsh and highly seasonal environment. The dynamics ofthese systems will be impacted by climate change and other ecologicaldisruptions. Baseline knowledge of parasite biodiversity andparasite and host ecology, together with predictive models andlong-term monitoring programs, are essential for anticipatingand detecting altered patterns of host range, geographic distribution,and the emergence of parasitic infections and diseases.