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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Seroepidemiologic Studies

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Association of Hantavirus infections and Leptospirosis with the occurrence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Etiology in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka: A prospective study with patients and healthy persons
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2020) Sunil-Chandra, N.P.; Jayaweera, J.A.A.S.; Kumbukgolla, W.; Jayasundara, M.V.M.L.
    ABSTRACT: Chronic Kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) has become a significant disease burden, affecting farming community of Sri Lanka and the exact etiology, which could be multifactorial, is not hitherto established. This study is aimed to determine the association of past hantavirus infection and leptospirosis with the occurrence of CKDu. A cohort (n = 179) of known CKDu patients living in high-CKDu prevalent areas of Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka was compared with a group of 49 healthy, sex-matched younger blood relatives of CKDu patients (control-1) and another 48 healthy, age, and sex-matched individuals living in low-CKDu prevalent area (control-2) of the same district where same life style and climate conditions prevail. Fifty out of 179 (27.9%) CKDu patients, 16/49 (32.7%) of control-1 and 7/48 (14.6%) of control-2 were found positive for IgG antibodies to Puumala, Hantaan or both strains of hantaviruses. Hantaan strain specificity was found to be predominant in all study groups. Hantavirus IgG sero-prevalence of healthy individuals living in low-CKDu prevalent area was significantly lower compared to CKDu patients and healthy younger blood relatives living in high-CKDu prevalent areas (p = 0.03). Past hantavirus infection possesses a significant risk for the occurrence of CKDu (OR = 4.5; 95% CI-3.1-5.4, p = 0.02). In contrast, IgG seroprevalence to hantaviruses was not significantly different in CKDu patients and healthy younger blood relatives living in high-CKDu prevalent areas indicating past hantavirus infection has no association with the occurrence of CKDu or possibly, younger relatives may develop CKDu in subsequent years. Seroprevalence to leptospirosis showed no significant difference between CKDu patients and healthy controls. KEYWORDS: CKDu; chronic kidney disease; hantaviruses; leptospira; sero-prevalence. Erratum in: Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020;10:631515
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    Toxoplasmosis awareness, seroprevalence and risk behavior among pregnant women in the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka
    (London, UK : Maney Publishing., 2016) Chandrasena, N.; Herath, R.; Rupasinghe, N.; Samarasinghe, B.; Samaranayake, H.; Kasturiratne, A.; de Silva, N.R.
    BACKGROUND: Primary gestational toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to the fetus with deleterious effects on the pregnancy. There is very little information regarding gestational toxoplasmosis in Sri Lanka. This survey was done to determine the prevalence and awareness of toxoplasmosis and to identify risk factors of infection among pregnant women in the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka. METHODS: Women attending obstetric clinics at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in 2014 were tested for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) specific Immunoglobulins G (IgG) and M (IgM) subtypes using the OnSite Toxo IgG/IgM Rapid Test-Dip Strip®. Disease awareness and risk behaviors of the participants were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 293 participants (mean age 27 years, SD ± 5.92), 38% were primigravidae with a mean gestational age of 16.2 weeks (SD 7). The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies was 12.3% (n = 36) and zero, respectively. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were calculated to determine risk factors of infection (cat-ownership, handling cats, consumption of meat, commercial meals and unwashed raw vegetables and fruits, handling soil and not washing hands after handling soil). On bivariate analysis, eating commercially prepared meals weekly or more was associated with toxoplasma seroprevalence with marginal statistical significance. On multivariate analysis, none of the considered risk factors were significant. Toxoplasma awareness was 4.4% (n = 13); health personnel (46.2%, n = 6) and media (53.8%, n = 7) being sources of information. CONCLUSIONS: Health education programs to increase awareness of toxoplasmosis is recommended at antenatal clinics.
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    Seroprevalence of rubella antibodies among pregnant females in Sri Lanka
    (SEAMEO Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Project, 2003) Palihawadana, P.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Perera, J.
    The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of rubella antibodies among pregnant females in the Kalutara District of Sri Lanka, and to identify factors associated with susceptibility to rubella infection among pregnant females. A cross-sectional clinic-based study was conducted among 620 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and residing in the district for more than one month. Data on the pregnant females and the socio-economic characteristics of the families were obtained using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Three milliliters of blood was obtained to measure rubella-specific IgG antibody levels by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) tests. Overall, 76 percent of pregnant females were seropositive for rubella antibodies. Seropositivity in pregnant females increased with age. Susceptibility to rubella was significantly associated with rubella immunization status. Given the high susceptibility rate to rubella infection among pregnant females, it is imperative that any vaccination strategy in the short-term should focus on reducing the number of susceptible women of child-bearing age.
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    Seroepidemiological study of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in Brazil, Estonia, India, Morocco and Sri Lanka
    (BMJ Publishing Group, 2003) Cowan, F.M.; French, R.S.; Mayaud, P.; Gopal, R.; Robinson, N.J.; de Oliveira, S.A.; Faillace, T.; Uuskula, A.; Nygard-Kibur, M.; Ramalingam, S.; Sridharan, G.; El Aouad, R.; Alami, K.; Rabi, M.; Sunil-Chandra, N.P.
    BACKGROUND: The association between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the development of HSV vaccines have increased interest in the study of HSV epidemiology. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the age and sex specific seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in selected populations in Brazil, Estonia, India,Morocco, and Sri Lanka. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from various populations including children, antenatal clinic attenders, blood donors, hospital inpatients, and HIV sentinel surveillance groups. STD clinic attenders were enrolled in Sri Lanka, male military personnel in Morocco. Sera were tested using a common algorithm by type specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibody assay. RESULTS: 13,986 samples were tested, 45.0% from adult females, 32.7% from adult males, and 22.3% from children. The prevalence of HSV-1 varied by site ranging from 78.5%-93.6% in adult males and from 75.5%-97.8% in adult females. In all countries HSV-1 seroprevalence increased significantly with age (p<0.001) in both men and women. The prevalence of HSV-2 infection varied between sites. Brazil had the highest age specific rates of infection for both men and women, followed by Sri Lanka for men and Estonia for women, the lowest rates being found in Estonia for men andIndia for women. In all countries, HSV-2 seroprevalence increased significantly with age (p<0.01) and adult females had higher rates of infection than adult males by age of infection. CONCLUSIONS: HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence was consistently higher in women than men, particularly for HSV-2. Population based data on HSV-1 and HSV-2 will be useful for designing potential HSV-2 vaccination strategies and for focusing prevention efforts for HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection
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    Low community seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the Gampaha district
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2002) Gunasekera, H.A.K.M.; Sunil-Chandra, N.P.; de Silva, H.J.
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    Prevalence of hepatitis C virus markers in Sri Lankan patients with alcoholic cirrhosis
    (Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1994) de Silva, H.J.; Vitarana, T.; Ratnatunga, N.; Breschkin, A.; Withane, N.; Kularatne, W.N.S.
    A high prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. There are, however, doubts regarding the specificity of the first generation anti-HCV antibody assays used. We prospectively investigated HCV status in 47 Sri Lankan patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. A first generation assay (Ortho HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) and two second generation tests (Abbott HCV enzyme immunoassay and United Biomedical Incorporated HCV enzyme immunoassay) were used. Positive results were confirmed by the second generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA 2). Of the 47 patients (46 males, mean age 41.7 years), 17 (36.2%) had previously had one or more blood or plasma transfusions. Seven (14.9%) of the samples were positive for anti-HCV antibodies using the Ortho-HCV ELISA, but only one (2.1%) sample was positive when tested with the second generation assays. The positive result was confirmed by RIBA 2. The prevalence of HCV in the patients was low despite many of them being exposed to blood or blood products. Hepatitis C virus, therefore, may not be an important pathogenic factor in alcoholic cirrhosis in Sri Lanka
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