New article: [The resistance status of gastrointestinal strongyles against anthelmintics in three Estonian sheep flocks]

Abstract
Poor efficacy of anthelmintic drugs in sheep due to infections with resistant gastrointestinal strongyles is reported worldwide. The aim of this pilot study was to gain an insight into the current situation of anthelmintic efficacy in Estonian sheep flocks. From September to November 2012, faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) were carried out in three Estonian sheep farms, evaluating the efficacy of albendazole and ivermectin. Individual faecal samples were taken at the day of treatment and 10 to 14 days later and examined by a modified McMaster technique. Anthelmintic treatment was carried out with ivermectin (Bimectin 10 mg/ml, Bimeda Chemicals Export) subcutaneously with a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg of body weight in the IVM group (n = 20 animals/farms 1 and 2; n = 5 for farm 3) or albendazol (Endospec 10%, Bimeda Chemicals Export) orally in the dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight in the ALB group (n = 20 animals/ farm); animals in the control group (n = 20 animals for farms 1 and 3, n = 18 for farm 2) were left untreated. The FECRT was carried out according to the WAAVP guidelines. On farm 1 the efficacy of albendazole and ivermectin was reduced with 66% and 65% FECR, respectively. With a FECR of 26% the results of farm 2 showed a pronounced albendazole resistance while ivermectin was still sufficiently efficient (99% reduction). Farm 3 showed nearly 100% efficacy of albendazole and ivermectin, but earlier problems with high endoparasite burden and mortality may indicate a possible developing albendazole resistance which could not be detected with the FECRT yet. The results of this study show that in Estonia resistance against benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones does occur, indicating that close countrywide monitoring is advisable.

Full article: 
Anupöld AM, Hinney B, Joachim A. [The resistance status of gastrointestinal strongyles against anthelmintics in three Estonian sheep flocks]. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2014 Jan-Feb;127(1-2):50-5.
[Article in German]

New article: Seroprevalence of and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Cats in Estonia

Abstract
In Estonia, northeastern Europe, Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in humans has not declined, in contrast to many other countries. The reasons for this are unknown. Domestic cats are important hosts in the epidemiology of the parasite, but information on local feline T. gondii infections has been lacking. An epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and the risk factors associated with seropositivity in cats in Estonia. Surplus from blood samples that had been collected for unrelated diagnostic purposes from 306 pet cats and 184 shelter cats were analyzed for anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies by using a direct agglutination test. Two questionnaires were designed to reveal relevant risk factors for seropositivity. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in cats in Estonia was 60.8%. Older age, outdoor access, hunting, living outside the city in the countryside, and not being a purebred cat were among the risk factors associated with seropositivity. T. gondii is highly prevalent in domestic cats in Estonia. This suggests that the environment has been contaminated with T. gondii. Seropositivity indicates previous oocyst shedding, and most of the cats had outdoor access. The increase in T. gondii seroprevalence with age indicates acquired infections, and most of the risk factors were lifestyle-related. Cat owners could diminish the risk of T. gondii infection and also limit the spread of the parasite by not allowing their cats to roam free.

Full article:
Must K, Lassen B, Jokelainen P. Seroprevalence of and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Cats in Estonia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2015 Oct;15(10):597-601. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1809. Epub 2015 Sep 22.
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New article: Persistence of Eimeria bovis in soil

Abstract
Eimeriosis is a disease that occurs globally and often affects cattle grazing on pastures contaminated with oocysts of the pathogenic species Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zuernii or Eimeria alabamensis, respectively. Nonetheless, little is understood regarding oocyst persistence on the pasture. The study was performed in the temperate climate zone. Soil samples were spiked with 100,000 E. bovis oocysts in July 2010 or with 50,000 oocysts in October 2010, respectively, both either with our without addition of cattle faeces. The soil samples were exposed to natural environmental conditions until April 2011. A subset of the samples was analysed immediately after spiking as positive control. The oocysts were recovered by a flotation method and counted in a reading chamber. On average, 23 % of the oocysts could be recovered from the positive control. The recovery of oocysts dropped to 0.30 % of the original level in the samples prepared in July independent of the addition of faeces, whereas the oocyst count was higher in the samples prepared in October, both without (2.05 %) and with (2.64 %) faecal material. No differences were observed between presence of oocysts or oocyst counts recovered in the presence or absence of faeces. Presence of faeces had a positive influence on oocyst integrity. During the winter season, the number of oocysts in the soil was lowered under the detection limit in most samples. On the other hand, the comparatively short 3-month summer period had a significant influence on the number of persisting oocysts too.

Full article: 
Lassen B, Lepik T, Bangoura B. Persistence of Eimeria bovis in soil. Parasitol Res. 2013 Jul;112(7):2481-6. doi: 10.1007/s00436-013-3413-4. Epub 2013 Apr 7.

New article: "Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging wild boars hunted for human consumption in Estonia"

Abstract from Acta Vet Scand. 2015 Aug 4;57
"Background
Although the prevalence of human Toxoplasma gondii infections is high in Estonia, no information is available on the prevalence of infections in the local animal populations. Wild boars are a good indicator species for estimating the prevalence and spread of T. gondii and were thus investigated in this nationwide cross-sectional study. Volunteer hunters sampled cardiac or skeletal muscle of 471 wild boars legally hunted for human consumption in Estonia during the hunting season of 2012–2013. Serosanguineous meat juice samples were obtained from thawed tissue samples, diluted 1:40, and screened for specific anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies with a commercial direct agglutination test.

Results

Almost one-quarter (113; 24%) of the wild boars examined were seropositive for T. gondii. The seroprevalence did not differ significantly between age groups or sexes. The seroprevalence was lowest in Viljandimaa, which is located in the southern part of Estonia. In other counties, the infection was evenly prevalent.

Conclusions

In Estonia, wild boars are commonly exposed to T. gondii, which is endemic and widespread. The consumption of raw or undercooked meat of Estonian wild boars may pose an infection risk to humans and other hosts."


Full article available here: 
Jokelainen P, Velström K, Lassen B. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging wild boars hunted for human consumption in Estonia. Acta Vet Scand. 2015 Aug 4;57:42. doi: 10.1186/s13028-015-0133-z.

Estonian newspaper Maaleht 26 September 2015: 
Veerand Eesti metssigadest on toksoplasmaga kokku puutunud

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.