During the second stage of Project of European Regional Development Fund “1.1.1.2. “Post-doctoral research aid” “One Health” multidisciplinary approaches for epidemiology and prevention of selected parasitic zoonosis (OMEPPAZ), (1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/204)” senior researcher Dr. boil. Gunita Deksne were implementing following actions:

1) An appropriate study design has been developed, the best diagnostic methods for foodborne parasitic pathogens in humans in different sample matrices were determined, depending on the specific parasitic pathogen.

2) The necessary materials for the collection of blood samples from target groups, such as veterinarians, hunters, etc., were prepared to determine the presence and risk factors associated with the presence of parasitic pathogens. Blood donors were be selected as a control group in the study so as to represent the prevalence of parasitic pathogens in the Latvian population as a whole.

3) A close collaboration with researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies has been started within the study of Cryptosporidium spp. prevalence in the food-producing animals in Latvia and the potential risk factors.

4) Work has been continued on a retrospective study on the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in the Latvian population and the risk factors associated with it, and the manuscript about the results has been prepared. In co-operation with colleagues from the Nordic and Baltic countries, work has begun on preparing a review article on the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in food-producing animals.

Cooperation authority is State Education Development Agency. The duration of the project is 36 months. The total cost of the project is EUR 133 806, 85% of which is financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Publication dated 18.04.2018.