The seventh 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. Initiated molecular epidemiology studies Cryptosporidium spp. species differentiation and their subtypes in cattle and analysis of epidemiology to identify potential risk factors for cattle depending on the type of housing and other parameters.
2. Started a preparatory work for a further study on the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar muscle using modern molecular diagnostic methods (magneic-capture) as well as to study the correlation of T. gondii seroprevalence with the presence of T. gondii cells in host tissues.
3. For the following reports at conferences prepared during the postdoctoral research, as well as for the following student research papers:

• Ksenija Pankratjeva, a 6th year students of Riga Stradiņš University study program “Medicine”, at 4th of April attended at RSU International Scientific Student Conference (Riga, Latvia) and presented study on the epidemiology and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women, hunters and veterinarians. It study was presented as a poster and was awarded as the best student research. The supervisor of the study was Dr. med., Prof., Angelika Krūmiņa and Dr. biol. Gunita Deksne was a scientific adviser and the study was done within the framework of post-doctorate study.

• Post-doctorate G. Deksne gave a plenary speech on “Foodborne parasites: Myth or Truth” at the 10th International Conference on Biodiversity Research (Daugavpils, Latvia) which was held at 24th-25th of April. Within the talk, audience was introduced with preliminary results gained within post-doctorate studies.

• Maira Mateusas, a 6th year student of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Latvian University of Agriculture of the study program “Veterinary Medicine”, at 17th of May defended a rotation practice reference work developed in the framework of a postdoctoral research study on the topic “Cryptosporidium spp. occurrence in cattle in Latvia and factors associated with the infection”. The supervisor of the study was Dr. vet. med., assoc. Prof., Dace Keidāne and Dr. biol. Gunita Deksne was a scientific adviser.

• Post-doctorate G. Deksne attended the 14th Annual Workshop of the National Parasitology Laboratories and present the primary findings of the study on Cryptosporidium spp. incidence, risk factors and molecular species diversity. During the meeting, the post-doctorate gained valuable experience from experts of leading European institutes, and started a discussions with experts from the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health on further data processing and modeling.

• Linda Liepiņa, a student of the Riga Stradiņš University study Faculty of Medicine, the study program “Biomedicine”, defended her thesis at 11t of June on topic “Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and avidity in pregnant women in Latvia”. The supervisor of the study was Dr. med., Prof., Angelika Krūmiņa and Dr. biol. Gunita Deksne was a scientific adviser and the study was done within the framework of post-doctorate study.

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 18.07.2019.