U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            ZARNKE, RANDALL - ALASKA DEPT FISH GAMEitem
                                            Dubey, Jitenderitem
                                            Kwok, Oliveritem
                                            VER HOEF, JAY - ALASKA DEPT FISH GAME
  Submitted to: Journal of Wildlife Diseases
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/1999
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary: Infections by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent in livestock and humans. It causes abortion in livestock and mental retardation and loss of vision in congenitally infected children. Infection in wild omnivores is a good indication of the parasite in the environment because they ingest both meat infected with T. gondii and food  and water contaminated with oocysts from feces of infected cats. Scientist at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the University of Illinois found T. gondii antibodies in 49% of 379 raccoons from Illinois. These results indicate widespread contamination of the environment by T. gondii and the results will be of interest to parasitologists and wildlife biologists.
                                Technical Abstract: Blood was collected from selected wildlife species in specific areas of Alaska during 1976-1996. A modified agglutination test was used to test sera for evidence of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. Serum antibody prevalence was 43% (62 positive of 143 tested) for black bears (Ursus americanus), 9% (11/125) for wolves (Canis lupus), 7% (22/319) for Dall  sheep (Ovis dalli), 6% (14/241) for caribou (Rangifer tarandus), 1% (3/240 for moose (Alces alces) and 1% (2/241) for bison (bison bison). A predictive model was developed to determine the effect of sex, age, location and year of collection on antibody prevalence for each species. Prevalence was higher in older age black bears, caribou and wolves. For black bears, prevalence was highest in the southeast region of the state. For caribou, prevalence was lowest on the Alaska Peninsula.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov