EURL rabies
Collection of samples, techniques, validation and interpretation of the diagnostic methods for the purposes of rabies surveillance are presented here.
Diagnostic methods considered compliant are presented in the WOAH rabies manual. A list of procedures inspired by the WOAH official methods is also proposed.
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Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira
♦ 03 September 2015 ♦
Introduction of Finnish rabies reference laboratory
Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira is the national reference laboratory for rabies. Veterinary Virology research unit operates in Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
The head of unit is DVM, PhD Tuija Gadd. The rabies laboratory is run by DVM Tiina Nokireki. We have six laboratory technicians and eight researchers trained to work with rabies in our BSL-3 laboratory facilities.
Techniques
Techniques we use are FAT, RTCIT and RT-PCR for virus detection and ELISA and FAVN for the detection of antibodies.
Accreditation
The laboratory is accredited according to ISO17025: FAT, FAVN, ELISA and vaccine bait titration have been accredited and this fall also RTCIT will be included in the accreditation.
Routine
We examine about 500 to 700 samples per year for virus detection and about 400 serological samples. Bait uptake tetracycline analysis of carnivores is done in our Oulu laboratory for wildlife.
Finland rabies status
Finland has been rabies free since 1991, but we carry out vaccination of wildlife along the south-east border in order to prevent rabies re-occurrence and there is a bilateral agreement concerning creation and maintenance of a vaccination buffer zone with Russia in force.
EBLV-2 has been detected in Finnish Daubenton’s bats and we carry out a scientific research project on EBLV-2 in collaboration with Helsinki University, Professor Liisa Sihvonen being one important fellow researcher working at the University.
Contact
Dr. Tiina Nokireki: tiina.nokireki@evira.fi
Website: www.evira.fi
Photo: Staff present on 26.8.2015:
On the left: Tiina Nokireki, on the right: Tuija Gadd, in between: Liisa Sihvonen.
On the background, Tiina Peltonen, Laura London, Merja Hautala, Niina Tammiranta,
Marika Karlsson, Sari Kiuru and Riikka Holopainen.
Staff missing from the photo: Miia Jakava-Viljanen (not currently working at Evira), Anita Huovilainen,
Ulla-Maija Kokkonen and Arja Engblom.
Workshop for rabies 2016 – Save the date!
♦ 01 September 2015 ♦
The next edition of the workshop for rabies should be held in Strasbourg, Eastern France on 20 and 21 April 2016. A more detailed notification on schedule and venue will be released in the coming months. Please save the date to make sure that you will be coming to this major annual event!
Back to the office!
♦ 01 September 2015 ♦
The EURL for rabies team hopes that you all had a nice summer time and wishes you a good new semester after the summer break. Most of you probably already have a full agenda for the coming months… Best wishes to all of you!