Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Ocular trematodiasis in children, Sri Lanka(National Center for Infectious Diseases, 2023) Mallawarachchi, C.H.; Dissanayake, M.M.; Hendavitharana, S.R.; Senanayake, S.; Gunathilaka, N.; Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Yahathugoda, T.C.; Wickramasinghe, S.; de Silva, N.R.Using histopathology and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer 2 gene, we found >2 distinct trematode species that caused ocular trematode infections in children in Sri Lanka. Collaborations between clinicians and parasitologists and community awareness of water-related contamination hazards will promote diagnosis, control, and prevention of ocular trematode infections.Item Annotated checklist of chigger mites (Trombidiformes: Leeuwenhoekiidae, Trombiculidae and Walchiidae) in Sri Lanka(Elsevier, 2022) Ashani, M.L.S.; Gunathilaka, P.A.D.H.N.; Premaratna, B.A.H.R.; Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Jacinavicius, F.C.; Silva, R.B.Chigger mites (Leeuwenhoekiidae, Trombiculidae, and Walchiidae) are parasites of any terrestrial vertebrate. The present study updates the list of chigger mite (Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae, and Walchiidae) species recorded from Sri Lanka along with taxonomic classification based on previous investigations since 1946 to date and our observations in western and southern parts of the country. This checklist listed 15 species in 9 genera within the three chigger families. For now, murid species were the host most sampledparasitized by chiggers in Sri Lanka. However, further studies are required to increase the diversity of chigger mites in Sri Lanka and probably the description of new species, which will be possible with morphological and molecular characterization.Item Human-porcine reassortant rotavirus generated by multiple reassortment events in a Sri Lankan child with diarrhea(Elsevier Science, 2018) Yahiro, T.; Takaki, M.; Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Isa, H.; Ahmed, K.A human-porcine reassortant rotavirus, strain R1207, was identified from 74 group A rotaviruses detected in 197 (37.6%) stool samples collected from patients who attended a tertiary care hospital in Ragama, Sri Lanka. This is the first report of a human-porcine reassortant rotavirus in Sri Lanka. The patient was a 12-month-old boy who had been hospitalized with fever and acute diarrhea with a duration of 6 days. The family had pigs at home before the birth of this boy. However, the neighbors still practice pig farming. The genotype constellation of R1207 was G4-P[6]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1. This is based on the assignment of all the eleven gene segments a full genome-based genotyping system. R1207 showed a 4-2-3-2 genomic electrophoretic migration pattern, which is characteristic of group A rotaviruses. Our analyses revealed that five (NSP2, NSP4, VP1, VP2, and VP7) of the 11 genes were closely related to the respective genes of porcine strains. Although the remaining six genes (NSP1, NSP3, NSP5, VP3, VP4, and VP6) were related to human strains, with the exception of the gene sequence of NSP1, all of these human strains were human-porcine reassortants. With a genogroup 1 genetic backbone, this strain was possibly formed via multiple genetic reassortments. We do not know whether this strain is circulating in pigs, as no data are available on porcine rotaviruses in Sri Lanka. Surveillance should be strengthened to determine the epidemiology of this genotype of rotavirus in Sri Lanka and to assess whether the infection was limited or sustained by ongoing human-to-human transmission.Item Human infection with sub-periodic Brugia spp. in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka: a threat to filariasis elimination status?(BioMed Central, 2018) Mallawarachchi, C.H.; Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Premaratna, R.; Mallawarachchi, S.M.N.S.M.; de Silva, N.R.BACKGROUND: Post-mass drug administration (MDA) surveillance during the lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination program in Sri Lanka, revealed the re-emergence of brugian filariasis after four decades. This study was done with the objectives of investigating the epidemiology and age-specific vulnerability to infection. Surveillance was done using night blood smears (NBS) and the Brugia rapid test (BRT), to detect microfilaria (MF) and anti-Brugia IgG4 antibodies in blood samples collected from an age-stratified population enrolled from two high-risk study areas (SA)s, Pubudugama and Wedamulla in the Gampaha District. The periodicity of the re-emergent Brugia spp. was characterized by quantitative estimation of MF in blood collected periodically over 24 h using nucleopore-membrane filtration method. RESULTS: Of 994 participants [Pubudugama 467 (47.9%) and Wedamulla 527 (53%)] screened by NBS, two and zero cases were positive for MF at Pubudugama (MF rate, 0.43) and Wedamulla (MF rate, 0), respectively, with an overall MF rate of 0.2. Of the two MF positives, one participant had a W. bancrofti while the other had a Brugia spp. infection. Of 984 valid BRT test readings [Pubudugama (n = 461) and Wedamulla (n = 523)], two and seven were positive for anti-brugia antibodies by BRT at Pubudugama (antibody rate 0.43) and Wedamulla (antibody rate 1.34), respectively, with an overall antibody rate of 0.91. Both MF positives detected from SAs and two of three other Brugia spp. MF positives detected at routine surveillance by the National Anti-Filariasis Campaign (AFC) tested negative by the BRT. Association of Brugia spp. infections with age were not evident due to the low case numbers. MF was observed in the peripheral circulation throughout the day (subperiodic) with peak counts occurring at 21 h indicating nocturnal sub-periodicity. CONCLUSIONS: There is the low-level persistence of bancroftian filariasis and re-emergence of brugian filariasis in the Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The periodicity pattern of the re-emergent Brugia spp. suggests a zoonotic origin, which causes concern as MDA may not be an effective strategy for control. The importance of continuing surveillance is emphasized in countries that have reached LF elimination targets to sustain programmatic gains.