Salmonella spp. and E.coli 0157:H7 sampling of Arctic hare, Canada goose, snow goose, rock ptarmigan, willow ptarmigan, muskox, walrus, Arctic charr between 2007 and 2008 in Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq, Inukjuak, Salluit, Kangirsuk, Umiujaq and Ivujivik.

Summary: The objectives of this project were two-fold: (1) to implement rapid, simple, and inexpensive test methods enabling the detection of the foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in foods and related samples, for the purpose of establishing basic on-site food microbiology testing capability at the Nunavik Research Centre (NRC) in Kuujjuaq, with the provision of hands-on training in the operation of methods; and (2) to use this new capability to conduct a survey of the eastern Canadian Arctic in order to ascertain the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in traditional meats derived from arctic food animals. For the prevalence study, a total of 129 samples from arctic mammals, fowl, fish and environmental swabs from Kuujjuaq and Tasiujaq community freezers were analyzed at both the NRC and CFIA laboratories.