During the third stage of the 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) On April 27 of this year, in collaboration with the Latvian Veterinary Association, during the annual Veterinary conference, the collection of blood samples from veterinarians was organized to detect presence of specific antibodies of following pathogens – Toxoplasma gondii, Echinococcus spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. Veterinarians are a significant risk group for the daily intake of these food parasitic pathogens. Veterinarians were voluntarily invited to donate a blood sample, as well as to complete a questionnaire on daily and eating habits, before signing a volunteer study consent form. A total of 173 veterinarians volunteered for the study. Currently, work is still being carried out on the processing of the collected blood samples and data, as well as informing the participants about the obtained results.

2) From 4 to 8 June, leading researcher Gunita Deksne took part in a mobility visit to the partner National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM, Bilthoven, the Netherlands) to learn modern diagnostic methods for food parasitic pathogens. During the mobility visit, discussions were organized, during which recommendations on the design of the postdoctoral research and the efficiency of its implementation were also received. The most important method learned during the experience trip is the direct detection of the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in meat products using a magnetic-capture and following qPCR methods.

3) To ensure the transfer of the knowledge gained from the project, a publication was prepared and submitted to the journal “Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases”, which is included in the bibliographic and citation information database Scopus of multidisciplinary scientific publications. The publication has already been evaluated and work is currently underway on the editors’ suggestions.

4) In collaboration with the researchers of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and technology, the collection of bovine samples for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. occurrence, species diversity and factors influencing it in Latvia.

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 18.07.2018.