Echinococcus multilocularis in Tartu city, Estonia

Update.
Publications released in connection with this article:

• Plumer L, Davison J, Saarma U (2014) Rapid Urbanization of Red Foxes in Estonia: Distribution, Behaviour, Attacks on Domestic Animals, and Health-Risks Related to Zoonotic Diseases. PLoS ONE 9(12): e115124. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115124
• Laurimaa L, Davison J, Plumer L, Süld K, Oja R, Moks E, et al. Noninvasive detection of Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm in urban area, Estonia [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis [Internet]. 2015 Jan [date cited]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2101.140136

In an interview with Urmas Saarma (University of Tartu) in the Estonian newspaper Õhtuleht September 4th 2014 the sad reality about the dangerous parasite Echinococcus multilocularis in Estonia was discussed.

The dangerous parasite can be found in one out of three foxes in Estonia. The eggs of the parasite that can infect humans, has been found in 7% of the fox faeces collected within the second largest city of Estonia, Tartu.

Article:
http://www.ohtuleht.ee/593010/koos-rebastega-hiilib-linnadesse-kole-parasiit

In the Estonian section it is possible to read about the parasite in an article by Epp Moks from University of Tartu

Dr. Süld and colleagues recently published an article on zoonotic diseases, including E. multilocularis, in raccoon dogs.
Süld K, Valdmann H, Laurimaa L, Soe E, Davison J, Saarma U. An Invasive Vector of Zoonotic Disease Sustained by Anthropogenic Resources: The Raccoon Dog in Northern Europe. PLoS One. 2014 May 22;9(5):e96358. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096358. eCollection 2014.

Official statistics on detected cases of echinococcosis in Estonia (Echinococcus multilocularis or Echinococcus granulosus - not specified) can be found in at the Estonian Health Boards homepage ("Nakkushaigused Eestis 2011-2013") or at the official reports from the European Centre of Disease Control and Prevention report of Annual epidemiological report "Reporting on 2011 surveillance data and 2012 epidemic intelligence data" (page 80).

New insight into how bovine Eimeria oocysts may survive freezing

Bovine Eimeria parasites survives and thrives well in the Northern hemisphere. But how do they handle sub-zero temperatures during winter months and does it matter if the oocysts of the parasite are sporulated into an infective stage or not?

A new laboratory study of these questions has just been released. It appears that bovine Eimeria species are able to handle sub-zero temperature and even sporulate from a frozen unsporulated stage once thawed. The results indicate there may be differences between Eimeria species to tolerate the changes in temperature.

For experimental purposes the study demonstrated that freezing in an oxidizing sporulation medium (2% K2Cr2O7) significantly reduced the number of oocysts tolerating sub-zero temperatures. Some previous studies that investigated oocysts sub-zero tolerance to temperatures used  an oxidixing sporulation medium as the freezing medium.
 
The study also demonstrated a significant breakdown by microbial activity in fecal samples left at room temperature compared to a sterile solution over a duration of one month. These results indicate that microbial predators of the parasite oocyst may play a significant role in the parasites persistence.  

Link to article (Open Access)
Lassen B, Seppä-Lassila L, 2014. RECOVERY AND SPORULATION OF BOVINE EIMERIA OOCYSTS AFTER EXPOSURE TO SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURE. Vet Med Zoot. T. 66 (88), 35-39.

Cryptosporidiosis appears to be an occupational disease in Estonia

A new case study has just been published that challenge the mysterious absence of reported cases in Estonia of the diarrhoea causing disease cryptosporidiosis.

The article provide evidence that the infections from cattle to humans may be a specific subtype of Cryptosporidium parvum - so far reported found mainly in humans and animals in Eastern European countries.

The full article is available for download by following this link:
Lassen, Brian; Ståhl, Marie; Heidi, L. Enemark (2014). Cryptosporidiosis – an occupational risk and a disregarded disease in Estonia. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 56(36), 1 - 3.

Defense of a graduation thesis on Toxoplasma gondii

Upcoming defense in parasitology

Kärt Must
Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in Cats in Estonia
Graduation thesis in veterinary medicine
Link to study summary

Location and time:
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Kreutzwaldi 62, room A201
Tartu
Estonia

Date: June 5th 2014
Time: 9:00

Supervisors: Pikka Jokelainen and Brian Lassen
Opponent: Marika Masso, University of Tartu