| title: | Ecological aspects of etiology and spread of Mycobacterioses and investigation of NTM transfer factors |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6002 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
4.5. Veterinary Medicine |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Estonian Agrobiocentre |
| head of project: | Mihhail Sudakov |
| duration: | 01.01.2004 - 31.12.2007 |
| description: | Tuberculosis and AIDS are the leading causes of mortality among infectious diseases in humans (more than 6 million cases per year), whereas on the background of expanding HIV distribution a rapid growth of an incidence of mycobacterioses, caused by atypical or nontuberculous mycobacteria - NTM, is clearly visible. Mycobacterioses are currently referred as emerging diseases with spreading insemination in progress due to the global AIDS epidemy. In Estonia, during the last decade an epidemiological situation of tuberculosis has been worsened and Estonia belongs to the list of countries with the highest incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Also the number of HIV-infected people is rising quickly, thus predicting a rising number of mycobacteriosis cases in humans during next 3 - 5 years. Mycobacterioses in humans and in animals are caused by numerous pathogenic and potentially pathogenic species of mycobacteria: M. avium-intracellulare (MAC), M. kansasii, M. xenopi, M. scrofulaceum, M. chelonei etc. Unlike with tuberculosis, where infected people or animals serve as the reservoirs of infection, NTM infection mainly proceeds via ecological reservoirs such as soil, peat, ¿, water, animals etc. Thus, NTM are referred as "ecological bacteria" and "environmental mycobacteria", but their transmission routes and factors have not been properly investigated so far. NTM are widespread in Estonia among cattle and swine. We have isolated M. avium in wild boar, badger, deers and other mammals. Tuberculosis cases were diagnosed in chickens, pheasants, peacock and in wolf at Tallinn Zoo in 2003 (M. tuberculosis). The possibility of NTM transmission from infected animals and chickens via eggs, milk and other foodstuffs, and also faeces and urine. Therefore it is important to find out the natural NTM reservoirs, infections soursed and transmission routes. The main goals of his project are: 1. Tracing the NTM infection reservoirs and ecological sources; 2. Identification and molecular typing of etiologically important species of mycobacteria in animals and humans; 3. Determination of transmission routes and vectors; 4. Elaboration of preventive means to mycobacterioses. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Liidia Häkkinen | Veterinaar- ja Toidukesklaboratoorium | bakterioloog | |
| 2. | Mihhail Sudakov | Estonian Agrobiocentre | head of laboratory | |
| 3. | Silva Sütt | EPMÜ Agrobiokeskus | teadur | |