Are cats and their parasites taking over the world? | Emily Jenkins | TEDxUniversityofSaskatchewan

Cats can be found on every continent except for Antarctica, making them one of the most widespread animals in the world. But where cats go, their parasites follow — even as far north as the Canadian Arctic. One strange little hitchhiker, the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, may be a more prolific traveller than our feline friends. For over a decade, Dr. Emily Jenkins and her team have been trying to figure out why Canada’s northern residents have some of the highest exposure to Toxoplasma in North America. She will talk about how this parasite moves and manipulates its way around the world, and how to optimize our relationship with cats to protect our health, our wildlife, and our furry companions — a One Health win.  Dr. Emily Jenkins (PhD, DVM) is a veterinarian and professor of Veterinary Microbiology, and head of the Zoonotic Parasite Research Unit at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. She co-leads the University of Saskatchewan One Health Signature Area of Research, recognizing the need for collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches to minimize risks and maximize benefits at the interface of human, animal and environmental health. Dr. Jenkins and her research team have made major impacts in the fields of veterinary parasitology, food safety and One Health, focusing on globally important foodborne parasites which disproportionately affect rural, remote and Indigenous populations in Canada. She has published over 150 papers and supervised over 50 students and postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Jenkins loves parasites, cats, food, wildlife and her family, not necessarily in that order. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx