Information Resources on Parasitologyhttp://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/43012024-03-28T08:45:50Z2024-03-28T08:45:50ZShould chemoprophylaxis be a main strategy for preventing re‑introduction of malaria in highly receptive areas Sri Lanka a case in pointWickremasinghe, A.R.Wickremasinghe, R.Herath, H.D.B.Fernando, D.http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/69082022-12-09T05:04:22Z2017-03-04T00:00:00ZShould chemoprophylaxis be a main strategy for preventing re‑introduction of malaria in highly receptive areas Sri Lanka a case in point
Wickremasinghe, A.R.; Wickremasinghe, R.; Herath, H.D.B.; Fernando, D.
Attached; Background: Imported malaria cases continue to be reported in Sri Lanka, which was declared ‘malaria-free’ by
the World Health Organization in September 2016. Chemoprophylaxis, a recommended strategy for malaria prevention for visitors travelling to malaria-endemic countries from Sri Lanka is available free of charge. The strategy of providing chemoprophylaxis to visitors to a neighbouring malaria-endemic country within the perspective of a country
that has successfully eliminated malaria but is highly receptive was assessed, taking Sri Lanka as a case in point.
Methods: The risk of a Sri Lankan national acquiring malaria during a visit to India, a malaria-endemic country, was
calculated for the period 2008–2013. The cost of providing prophylaxis for Sri Lankan nationals travelling to India for 1,
2 and 4 weeks was estimated for that same period.
Results: The risk of a Sri Lankan traveller to India acquiring malaria ranged from 5.25 per 100,000 travellers in 2012 to
13.45 per 100,000 travellers in 2010. If 50% of cases were missed by the Sri Lankan healthcare system, then the risk of
acquiring malaria in India among returning Sri Lankans would double. The 95% confidence intervals for both risks are
small. As chloroquine is the chemoprophylactic drug recommended for travellers to India by the Anti Malaria Campaign of Sri Lanka, the costs of chemoprophylaxis for travellers for a 1-, 2- and 4-weeks stay in India on average are
US$ 41,604, 48,538 and 62,407, respectively. If all Sri Lankan travellers to India are provided with chemoprophylaxis for
four weeks, it will comprise 0.65% of the national malaria control programme budget.
Conclusions: Based on the low risk of acquiring malaria among Sri Lankan travellers returning from India and the
high receptivity in previously malarious areas of the country, chemoprophylaxis should not be considered a major
strategy in the prevention of re-introduction. In areas with high receptivity, universal access to quality-assured diagnosis and treatment cannot be compromised at whatever cost.
2017-03-04T00:00:00ZAdaptation of Leishmania donovani to Cutaneous and Visceral Environments: in Vivo Selection and Proteomic AnalysisMcCall, Laura-IsobelZhang, Wen-WeiDejgaard, KurtAtayde, Vanessa DinizMazur, AlexanderRanasinghe, ShalindraLiu, JingOlivier, MartinNilsson, TommyMatlashewski, Greghttp://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/46712022-02-24T05:29:45Z2015-02-01T00:00:00ZAdaptation of Leishmania donovani to Cutaneous and Visceral Environments: in Vivo Selection and Proteomic Analysis
McCall, Laura-Isobel; Zhang, Wen-Wei; Dejgaard, Kurt; Atayde, Vanessa Diniz; Mazur, Alexander; Ranasinghe, Shalindra; Liu, Jing; Olivier, Martin; Nilsson, Tommy; Matlashewski, Greg
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania protozoa. Two main forms are found in the Old World, self-limited cutaneous leishmaniasis and potentially fatal visceral leishmaniasis, with parasite dissemination to liver, bone marrow, and spleen. The Leishmania donovani species complex is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis worldwide, but atypical L. donovani strains can cause cutaneous leishmaniasis. We hypothesized that L. donovani can adapt to survive in response to restrictions imposed by the host environment. To assess this, we performed in vivo selection in BALB/c mice with a cutaneous L. donovani clinical isolate to select for parasites with increased capacity to survive in visceral organs. We then performed whole cell proteomic analysis and compared this visceral-selected strain to the original cutaneous clinical isolate and to a visceral leishmaniasis clinical isolate. Overall, there were no major shifts in proteomic profiles; however, translation, biosynthetic processes, antioxidant protection, and signaling were elevated in visceral strains. Conversely, transport and trafficking were elevated in the cutaneous strain. Overall, these results provide new insight into the adaptability of Leishmania parasites to the host environment and on the factors that mediate their ability to survive in different organs.
2015-02-01T00:00:00ZAwareness Regarding Treatment, Prevention and Control of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis among Medical Practitioners in the Colombo South and Jayewardenepura Teaching HospitalsWeerasinghe, H.A.A.S.Niluka, D.H.M.de Alwis, H.P.G.T.P.Weerasena, U.S.Gunasekara, S.G.V.C.Wickremasinghe, R.Goonawardena, S.http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/44612022-02-24T05:29:50Z2015-09-17T00:00:00ZAwareness Regarding Treatment, Prevention and Control of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis among Medical Practitioners in the Colombo South and Jayewardenepura Teaching Hospitals
Weerasinghe, H.A.A.S.; Niluka, D.H.M.; de Alwis, H.P.G.T.P.; Weerasena, U.S.; Gunasekara, S.G.V.C.; Wickremasinghe, R.; Goonawardena, S.
Introduction
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL ) is an intracellular protozoan parasitic transmitted by the sand fly. Leishmaniasis is a newly emerged and established notifiable disease in Sri Lanka. As CL skin lesions can be misdiagnosed with other skin lesions, it is important for medical practitioners to be able to identify the lesions caused by the parasite.
Objectives
To describe the awareness regarding treatment, prevention and control of leishmaniasis among Medical practitioners at the Colombo South (CSTH) and Sri Jayewardenepura teaching hospitals (SJTH).
Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in CSTH and SJTH. Study population was all the medical practitioners a total of 263 which included senior registrars, registrars, senior house officers, resident house officers and house officers. Data was obtained using a pre tested self- administered questionnaire. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Significance was calculated when P <0.05.
Results
Out of 263 doctors who participated 244 (92.8%) responded to the questionnaire and majority were from CSTH (77.9%). Mean age was 34 years (SD = 6.816). Only 68 (27.9%) medical practitioners have seen and treated patients with CL. Most of the doctors stated that sodium stibogluconate (65%) was the drug used to treat the disease, 65.6% were aware about the modes of transmission and 63.9% were aware regarding prevention and control of the disease. Majority (94.3%) knew that the disease was transmitted by the sand fly. There was a statistically significant difference between the current designation and the level of awareness regarding available investigations (P<0.002), treatment modalities (P< 0.001), effective drug treatment (P<0.05) and prevention and control (P<0.05).
Conclusions and/ or recommendations
Awareness regarding treatment, prevention and control of cutaneous leishmaniasis is inadequate among the medical practitioners. Appropriate referral should be done to a dermatologist if suspected. Continuous medical education on recent emerging infections is mandatory.
2015-09-17T00:00:00ZRestriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) Region of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Causing Leishmania donovani in Sri LankaRanasinghe, S.Hulangamuwa, S.Opathella, N.Wickremasinghe, R.Chandrasekharan, V.http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/44592022-02-24T05:50:58Z2015-04-01T00:00:00ZRestriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) Region of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Causing Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka
Ranasinghe, S.; Hulangamuwa, S.; Opathella, N.; Wickremasinghe, R.; Chandrasekharan, V.
Objectives: To isolate PCR quality DNA from punch biopsy samples of 35 suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions, carry out Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) PCR, analyse Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), sequence of ITS1 region of 10 randomly selected patient samples and to determine the genetic variation among the causative parasites.
Methods: Punch biopsies (3mm) from CL lesions (n=35) were taken and stored in NET buffer at -20C. DNA was extracted using a commercially available kit. ITS1 PCR was carried out using previously described primers. PCR products were digested with Haelll, run in a 1.7 % ethidium bromide gel and visualized under UV light. Same ITS1 PCR products of 10 randomly selected samples were sequenced commercially. Analysis of sequences was carried out with CLUSTALW2 multiple sequence analyzing software.
Results: All 35 CL samples showed the same Leishmania donovani ITS1 RFLP pattern. The BLAST search confirmed that the 10 sequenced Sri Lankan strains belong to L. donovani. Multiple sequences analysis showed that Sri Lankan L. donovani strains are highly homogenous in the ITS1 regions. However, the Sri Lankan strains showed, few indels in the ITS1 region when compared with the L. donovani ITS1 sequences originated from India, Sudan and Ethiopia.
Conclusions: Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka is still caused only by L. donovani and ITS1 region of the L. donovani strain of Sri Lankan origin is highly homogenous and conserved.
2015-04-01T00:00:00Z