Systematics and distribution of Lankascincus fallax (Peters, 1860) (Reptilia, Scincidae), an endemic litter-skink from Sri Lanka.

Lankascincus fallax is an endemic, but widespread species of skink distributed throughout Sri Lanka, including all bioclimatic zones (elevations from 0 to 1,200 m a.s.l.

Taxonomy, distribution, and conservation status of a rare arboreal lizard, Bronchocela celebensis Gray, 1845 (Reptilia: Agamidae) endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Bronchocela celebensis Gray, 1845 is one of the rarest species of the genus, known only from less than 20 museum specimens collected from northern Sulawesi. It is often confused with its similar congener, B. cristatella, which occurs widely throughout the Indonesian Archipelago and Peninsular Malaysia, except on the Sulawesi mainland.

Use of a catch-up programme to improve routine immunization in 13 provinces of Papua New Guinea, 2020-2022.

Objective: Routine immunization coverage in Papua New Guinea has decreased in the past 5 years. This persistently low routine immunization coverage has resulted in low population immunity and frequent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease across the country. We describe the use of a catch-up programme to improve routine immunization during the coronavirus disease pandemic in Papua New Guinea during 2020-2022.

The role of edaphic variables and management practices in regulating soil microbial resilience to drought - A meta-analysis.

Environmental disturbances such as drought can impact soil health and the resistance (ability to withstand environmental stress) and resilience (ability to recover functional and structural integrity after stress) of soil microbial functional activities. A paucity of information exists on the impact of drought on soil microbiome and how soil biological systems respond to and demonstrate resilience to drought stress. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (using only laboratory studies) to assess the response of soil microbial biomass and respiration to drought stress across agriculture, forest, and grassland ecosystems.

Apparent coordinated and communal hunting behaviours by Erabu sea krait Laticauda semifactiata.

Opportunistic observations of Erabu sea kraits (Laticauda semifaciata) provide evidence that this species undertake a novel foraging tactic; coordinated communal hunting. Erabu sea kraits prey on cryptic fish species in highly complex reef habitats. Intra- and interspecific cooperative hunting strategies may increase chances for all members of the hunting party to encounter and capture prey in these complex habitats.

Coordination of cross-talk between metabolism and epigenetic regulation by the SIN3 complex.

Post-translational modifications of histone proteins control the expression of genes. Metabolites from central and one-carbon metabolism act as donor moieties to modify histones and regulate gene expression. Thus, histone modification and gene regulation are connected to the metabolite status of the cell.

Responding to COVID-19 vaccine-related safety events: WHO Western Pacific regional experience and lessons learned.

Problem: Novel vaccines were developed in an unprecedentedly short time in response to the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which triggered concerns about the safety profiles of the new vaccines. This paper describes the actions and outcomes of three major adverse events of special interest (AESIs) reported in the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Western Pacific Region: anaphylaxis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) and post-vaccination death.

Context: During the large-scale introduction of various novel COVID-19 vaccines, robust monitoring of and response to COVID-19 vaccine safety events were critical.

COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events following immunization in the WHO Western Pacific Region, 2021-2022.

The speed at which new vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were developed and rolled out as part of the global response to the pandemic was unprecedented. This report summarizes COVID-19 vaccine-related safety data in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. Data for 1 March 2021 to 31 March 2022 from 36 out of 37 countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region are presented.

A review of the genus Bronchocela Kaup, 1827 (Reptilia: Agamidae) in the Nicobar Archipelago with the description of two new species.

Species of the agamid genus Bronchocela Kaup, 1827 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are reassessed based on newly collected specimens from different parts of the Nicobar Archipelago. An assessment based on morphology and distribution of the identified groups reveal two new, unnamed populations, one allied to B. cristatella and the other allied to B.

Assessing perceptions of establishing a vaccine pooled procurement mechanism for the Western Pacific Region.

This study explored the demand and interest among countries in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WPR) to establish and participate in a regional vaccine pooled procurement mechanism. National counterparts affiliated with Ministries of Health that are involved in the national procurement of vaccines within the WPR were identified and invited to complete surveys. Out of 80 counterparts invited, 17 (21%) responded, representing 13 of the 27 WPR countries.

Molecular phylogeny reveals distinct evolutionary lineages of the banded krait, Bungarus fasciatus (Squamata, Elapidae) in Asia.

The banded krait, Bungarus fasciatus is a widespread elapid snake, likely to comprise several distinct species in different geographic regions of Asia. Therefore, based on molecular phylogenetics and comparative morphology data, we present an overview of the systematic composition of the species to delimit potential biogeographic boundaries. Our phylogenetic analyses, based on four mitochondrial genes, reveal the existence of at least three evolutionary lineages within B.

Strongyloidiasis infection in a borderline lepromatous leprosy patient with adrenocorticoid insufficiency undergoing corticosteroid treatment: a case report.

Background: Strongyloidiasis is a soil-transmitted helminthiasis mainly caused by Strongyloides stercoralis. It is endemic to the tropics and subtropics. Sri Lanka has a 0-1.

Anaphylaxis: Revision of the Brighton collaboration case definition.

The Brighton Collaboration (BC) has formulated a number of case definitions which have primarily been applied to adverse events of special interest in the context of vaccine safety surveillance. This is a revision of the 2007 BC case definition for anaphylaxis. Recently, the BC definition has been widely used for evaluating reports of suspected anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination.

Taxonomy and distribution of a common arboreal lizard, Bronchocela jubata Dumril amp; Bibron, 1837 (Reptilia: Agamidae), with designation of its lectotype from Java, Indonesia.

Bronchocela jubata Dumril and Bibron, 1837 is one of the commonest species of the genus, known mostly from Java Island and southern parts of Sumatra. It is rare in Bali and Borneo. The juveniles are often confused with its morphologically similar congener, B.

Taxonomy, distribution, and conservation status of a rare arboreal lizard, Bronchocela hayeki (Mller, 1928) (Reptilia: Agamidae) from northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

Bronchocela hayeki (Mller, 1928) is one of the rarest species of the genus, known only from a handful of museum specimens from five locations in North Sumatra, and often confused with its similar congener, B. cristatella, which occurs widely throughout the Indonesian Archipelago and Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we examined the morphology of B.

Taxonomy and predicted distribution of a rare Indian skink, Eutropis innotata (Blanford, 1870) (Reptilia: Scincidae) with the redescription of its holotype.

We examined the holotype of Euprepes innotatus Blanford, 1870 which was presented to the Natural History Museum, London (NHMUK) by Blanford himself, and is redescribed herein. Based on the morphological similarity, we placed Eutropis innotata within the E. carinata group (contra Blanford, 1870), as it is closely allied to E.

Isolation, molecular characterization and phylogeny of Naegleria species in water bodies of North-Western Province, Sri Lanka.

Background: The inland freshwater bodies in the North-Western Province of Sri Lanka have ideal environmental conditions for the Naegleria species. Therefore, the presence and prevalence of Naegleria species in the water bodies of North-Western Province were determined by molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis in this study.

Methods: A total of 104 water bodies were selected from Kurunegala and Puttalam districts in the North-Western Province of Sri Lanka.

The identity of the exotic Pterygoplichthys sailfin catfishes in Sri Lanka (Teleostei: Loricariidae).

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major threat to biodiversity and have contributed to population declines in native species worldwide (Vilà et al. 2011; Gurevitch Padilla 2004). IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group lists some 80 invasive or potentially invasive species in Sri Lanka, which is part of a global biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al.

Bertiella studeri Infection in Children, Sri Lanka.

We provide a detailed molecular and phylogenetic description of Bertiella studeri tapeworms infecting children in Sri Lanka. Our findings can be used to identify multiple species of Bertiella tapeworms that can infect human hosts in the Old World.

In Ovo Delivered Toll-Like Receptor 7 Ligand, Resiquimod Enhances Host Responses against Infectious Bronchitis Corona Virus (IBV) Infection.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 ligand, resiquimod, has been studied as an adjuvant and antiviral agent against several pathogens in chicken. Yet, the effectiveness of resiquimod against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection has not been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of resiquimod delivered pre-hatch (in ovo) against IBV infection post-hatch identifying key mechanisms involved in resiquimod driven immune activation.

A Comprehensive Review of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka and Identification of Existing Knowledge Gaps.

Purpose: Sri Lanka is endemic to cutaneous leishmaniasis and reported as the latest focus of leishmaniasis in the Asian subcontinent. Annually, the number of leishmaniasis cases is increasing; therefore, more efficient diagnostic tools, treatment methods and effective prevention measures are indispensable. For this reason, many studies were conducted regarding leishmaniasis infections in Sri Lanka; however, some areas need more attention.

Morphological and molecular description of Armillifer moniliformis larvae isolated from Sri Lankan brown palm civet (Paradoxurus montanus).

We report Armillifer moniliformis species infecting the endemic Sri Lankan brown palm civet (Paradoxurus montanus) from the Knuckles Range Forest Conservation Area, Sri Lanka. Larval stages of A. moniliformis were found during the postmortem of three civet cats found dead.

Acute fulminant necrotizing amebic colitis in a pediatric patient: a rare complication of amebiasis with high mortality-a case report.

Background: The majority of amebic infections among humans remain asymptomatic. Rarely, the disease takes a fulminant acute course due to the development of necrotizing amebic colitis. This complication is usually found in adult patients.