Cryptosporidium and Giardia Occurrence Data in Wildlife from Arctic Alaska, 2012-2017

Sample collection was conducted as part of multiple research projects. Fecal samples were collected immediately post-euthanasia from Arctic foxes that were shot or trapped near Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska during May and June 2014 and 2016 as part of an ongoing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service predator control program. Polar bears were captured during March and April 2015 on the sea ice of the southern Beaufort Sea between Utqiaġvik and the United States-Canada border. Feces were collected by fecal grab from the rectum of chemically immobilized bears. Caribou were captured on their wintering grounds in the east-central Brooks Range in April 2015 and 2017. Samples were obtained from individuals when feces were spontaneously voided or via digital palpation. Fecal samples from walruses were collected from sea ice in May - July of 2012-2015 in the eastern Chukchi Sea. All fecal samples were stored at -20 °C and remained frozen until analysis.

Fecal samples were analyzed for Giardia and Cryptosporidium by immunofluorescence assay at the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories with previously established methods (Hughes-Hanks et al. 2005). MERIFLUOR Cryptosporidium/Giardia direct immunofluorescent assay (Meridian Bioscience Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio) was used according to the manufacturer's directions, with samples run in batches with positive and negative controls. We examined slides at 100x, and if cysts or oocysts were not detected, then also at 200x magnification using a fluorescence microscope. We considered a sample to be positive if any Giardia cysts or Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected.