Medicine
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/12
This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item Human intestinal nematode infections in Sri Lanka: A scoping review(Public Library of Science, 2024-12) Jayakody, N. K.; Silva, A.; Wickramasinghe, S.; De Silva, N.; Siribaddana, S.; Weerakoon, K. S.BACKGROUND Sri Lanka, an island located in South Asia, once experienced a notable prevalence of human intestinal nematode infections (HINIs). With the implementation of control programs, infection prevalence was reduced. Detailed information on prevalence, distribution and temporal trends of HINIs is limited. This review aims to explore Sri Lanka's HINI distribution, trends, diagnostics, control and challenges.METHODOLOGY We reviewed published information on HINIs in Sri Lanka in electronic databases, local journals and grey literature from inception to September 2022. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-Scr), a systematic strategy was used for searching, screening, reviewing and data extraction. The screening was initiated with a review of titles and abstracts using specific keywords, followed by a full-text screening based on predefined eligibility criteria. A total of 105 studies were included in the review, with 28 selected for pooled prevalence analysis.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The first nationwide survey in 1924 reported a hookworm infection prevalence of 93.1%. By 2017, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection prevalence across the island was 0.97% (ascariasis-0.45%, trichuriasis-0.25%, and hookworm infection-0.29%), and the enterobiasis prevalence between 2003 and 2017 ranged from 0% to 42.5%. Strongyloidiasis had been understudied, with a prevalence of 0.1% to 2%. Over the past two decades, the islandwide pooled HINI prevalence was 13.3%. Within specific demographics, it was 6.96% in the general community, 33.4% in plantation sector, and 11.6% in slum communities. During the colonial period, hookworm infection was the commonest HINI, but ascariasis is now more prevalent. The prevailing data relied solely on microscopy, often utilising single stool smears. Mass deworming programs were widely pursued in the first half of the 20th century, initially targeting antenatal women and schoolchildren, and now focusing on specific community groups. National surveys continue monitoring the three main STH infections.CONCLUSIONS The significant reduction in STH prevalence in the country over the past ten decades highlights the effectiveness of public health interventions, particularly mass deworming programs. Despite the success, STH prevalence disparities persist in vulnerable populations like plantation and slum communities, where hygiene and living conditions continue to pose challenges. Reliance on single stool smear microscopy highlights the need for more sensitive diagnostics to better assess infections. Fluctuating enterobiasis prevalence and limited strongyloidiasis data underscore the importance of continued surveillance and targeted interventions for sustained control and eventual elimination. Sri Lanka's experiences and control measures offer valuable insights for low-income countries in South Asia and beyond, particularly in managing HINIs with limited resources.Item Intestinal and Ectoparasites of Human Health Importance among Stray Dogs in Galle District, Sri Lanka.(19th Conference on Postgraduate Research, International Postgraduate Research Conference 2018, Faculty of Graduate Studies,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Rathnayake, S.P.; Sudusinghe, H.P.; Nilaweera, T.H.W.T.; Marasinghe, M.A.P.; Sriyalatha, W.A.; Gunathilaka, P.A.D.H.N.Human-animal bond is a reciprocally favorable dynamic relationship which is beneficial to the health and well-being of both. Dogs have close contact with humans and play a pivotal role as definitive hosts or reservoirs for different zoonotic parasites, especially in developing countries. There are only few studies have focused on the zoonotic potential of animals in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the objective of the present study was the determine the intestinal and ectoparasites among dog population that may be important for human health. A total of 40 stray dogs captured for an animal welfare clinic conducted in Galle District of Sri Lanka was recruited for the study. Faecal samples were collected per rectal in to separate vials containing 10% formaldehyde. Ectoparasites of selected dogs were collected using a lose comb and stored in alcohol solution. The stool samples were processed by Kato-Katz techniques and intestinal parasitic stages were morphologically identified. For quantitative analysis, the modified McMaster technique was used to estimate eggs per gram of feces. The ectoparasites were characterized referring to morphological features. The results revealed eight intestinal parasites namely; Ancylostomacaninum (Prevalence: 66.75%; Eggs per gram: 362.82), Toxocaracanis (13.51%; 73.41), Enterobiusvermicularis (9.1%; 49.41), Trichurisvulpis (7.0%; 38.12), Physalopterarara (1.56%; 8.47), Paragonimuskellicotti (1.0% 5.65), Uncineriastenocephala (0.78%; 4.24) and Eucoleusaerophilus (0.26%; 1.41). The high prevalence rates of T. canis may cause visceral and ocular larva migrans to humans, which lead to blindness and A. caninum associated with hookworm related cutaneous larva migrans. Humans can be infected with T. vulpis when they accidentally ingest embryonated eggs, through contamination of infected soil, food or fomites even though it has been recorded as a rare infection. P. rara infection can be caused to humans by the accidental ingestion of arthropod hosts such as German cockroaches. In addition, the P. kellicotti, U. stenocephala, E. aerophilus and E. vermicularis may cause some health issues to humans. Even though present study did not indicate the presence of Echinococcusgranulosus which resides in the small bowel of dogs and other canids may lead to cause echinococcosis in humans. Argaspersicus (Prevalence; 34.18%) was the predominant among ectoparasites followed by Ctenocephalidescanis (32.91%) and Ixodesscapularis (32.91%). A. persicus can cause serious allergies on humans. The bites of I. scapularis may lead to cause human babesiosis (Babesiamicroti), human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE); and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The presence of C. canis may indicate the transmission potential of Dipylidiumcaninum to humans as an occasional host. Overall, the investigation indicated that stay dogs in Galle District contain a multitude of ectoand endoparasites, thus posing a risk for the human population.