Indigenous One Health in the Arctic, A Systematic Literature Review of Circumpolar Zoonoses
METHODS: Study selection: We included original research studies that evaluated either or both exposures and disease outcomes related to zoonotic pathogens in indigenous communities, focusing in particular on circumpolar communities. Search: We performed literature searches in PUBMED using the following search strategy and MeSH keywords: “zoonoses” and “indigenous population” or “arctic.” We searched PUBMED, EBSCO, and Web of Science using the following search strategy: (“indigenous” or <other indigenous community keywords>) and (“one health” or “zoono*”) with or without (<circumpolar key words>). All searches were conducted without date restriction. We considered articles in English or Spanish or French.
RESULTS: The initial searches resulted in 755 articles. Exclusions were used: research articles only, geographic region only, indigenous only. The resulting 44 articles were identified and reviewed for relevance. After sorting the articles and removing those that were out of the defined circumpolar geographic area, reviews, and/or were inaccessible, the remaining 33 articles that were pertinent to indigenous One Health in the Circumpolar region were reviewed. A critical examination of the aggregated research presented three article themes: specific animal exposure studies, new zoonotic risks due to global climate change, and epidemiological disease tracking.
CONCLUSIONS: The close proximity of indigenous residents of the Arctic to animals both as companions and as food stocks has brought about higher incidence of zoonotic pathogen exposure. As global warming changes the climate, new species of animals and new infectious agents are both moving into closer proximity to the residents. Subsistence hunting, fishing, and herding, especially with canine assistance, are a source of much of the infections. New studies tracking exposures and infections are clearly indicated.