Researchers Find Infectious Cat Parasite in Western Arctic Beluga, Public Health Warning Issued [VIDEO]

A cat parasite, known to cause blindness in humans and harm growing fetuses, has been found for the first time in the western Arctic Belgua, prompting health advisories for Inuit people who consume whale meat.

Taxoplasma gondii, the potentially deadly cat parasite has been found in the marine creature by scientists at University of British Columbia. Toxoplasmosis is also referred as the kitty litter disease and harms people with weak immune system.

The study researchers says the warming temperature or the  'big thaw' in the Arctic is causing the migration of pathogens between Arctic and lower latitudes. Climate change is affecting the ice sheet barrier thereby forcing the pathogens to migrate to new vulnerable marine and land animals that are presently in the Arctic region.

"Ice is a major eco-barrier for pathogens," says Michael Grigg, a molecular parasitologist with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and an adjunct professor at UBC. "What we're seeing with the big thaw is the liberation of pathogens gaining access to vulnerable new hosts and wreaking havoc."

Prior to this, the same team of scientists  had discovered a novel strain of parasite called Sarcocystis that was earlier sequestered in the icy north and responsible for the death of 406 grey seals in 2012 in North Atlantic. The Arctic parasite, Sarcocystis pinnipedi, though not harmful to humans, is dangerous for marine creatures and has been fatal to the endangered Stellar sea Lions, Hawaiian monk seals, walruses, polar and grizzly bears in Alaska.

Toxoplsma spreads by consuming uncooked meat or water that has been in contact with the soil contaminated by cat feces. The study reports reveal that nearly one-third of the world's human population carry Toxoplasma. It can spread from mother to fetus and during blood transfusion or organ transplant.

The parasite was found earlier in other marine mammals in the northern pacific region. The marine mammals included sea otters, porpoises, harbour seals and killer whales. But this is the first time that the researchers have traced the presence of the parasite in Belguas.

"The Inuit's traditional processing and cooking methods should be enough to kill Toxoplasma, but vulnerable populations like pregnant women need to be extra vigilant around handling and consuming raw whale meat," says Grigg.

The finding was presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).