♦ 02 November 2015 ♦

Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory (VFL) is the national reference laboratory for rabies.

The Central Veterinary and Food Laboratory is situated in Tartu and there are three smaller branch laboratories in Tallinn, Rakvere and Saaremaa. Rabies studies are performed only in Central VFL in virology-serology department. The head of department is Katrin Mähar and three chief specialists involved with rabies investigation are Christel Männistu, Marika Karu and Viivika Virga. OTC determination studies are performed in bacteriology-patology department and contact person is Katrin Peik.


Methods

•    Fluorescence antibody test (FAT)
•    Tissue culture infective test (RTCIT)
•    Molecular techniques (RT-PCR)
•    OTC determination
•    ELISA

All laboratory methods are accredited according to ISO/I EC 17025:2005.
 

Responsibility of NRL

Rabies surveillance:
       Examine about 200 samples per year for virus detection.

Efficiency of oral vaccination programm.
      Examine  about 2000 samples per year for virus detection
      Examine  about 500 samples per year for antibody detection
      Examine  about 400 samples per year for OTC detection

Estonian has officially  been rabies free since 2013, but we carry out vaccination of wildlife along the east border in buffer zone with Russia. Last confirmed case rabies from are raccon dog was 2011 find close to Russian border.


Contact

Katrin Mähar: katrin.mahar@vetlab.ee
Website: www.vetlab.ee