Development and Evaluation of In-House ELISAs for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibodies in COVID-19 Patients in Sri Lanka.

COVID-19 serological tests complement the molecular diagnostics and can be used as important tool for serosurveillance and vaccine efficiency evaluation. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the diagnostic performance of an in-house ELISA for retrospective serosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2. Total IgG and IgM levels in sera of PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 patients ( = 50) from North Colombo Teaching Hospital were evaluated and compared with sera ( = 50) collected from prepandemic healthy individuals as controls.

Identification of allergens in Artocarpus heterophyllus, Moringa oleifera, Trianthema portulacastrum and Syzygium samarangense.

Background: It is clinically important to identify allergens in Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit), Moringa oleifera (moringa), Trianthema portulacastrum (horse purslane) and Syzygium samarangense (rose apple). This study included 7 patients who developed anaphylaxis to jackfruit (1), moringa (2), horse purslane (3) and rose apple (1). We sought to determine allergens in the edible ripening stages of jackfruit (tender, mature, and ripened jackfruit) and seeds, edible parts of moringa (seeds, seedpod, flesh inside seedpod, and leaves), horse purslane leaves and ripened rose apple fruit.

ASVAC2022 : 8 Asian Vaccine Conference.

Aiming to further the Immunization Partners in Asia Pacific (IPAP)'s vision of a world where no one suffers from a vaccine preventable disease, the 8 Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC 2022) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka and virtually from 15 to 18, September 2022 (www.asianvaccine.com).

Identification of allergens in coconut milk and oil with patients sensitized to coconut milk in Sri Lanka.

Background: Despite the low prevalence of IgE sensitivity to fresh or boiled coconut milk and coconut oil, those may contain allergens of which the clinical significance remains undetermined. This study aimed to identify and compare allergens in fresh coconut milk (FCM), boiled coconut milk (BCM), unrefined wet-processed coconut oil (WPCO), and dry-processed coconut oil (DPCO) using sera from patients with allergy to coconut milk.

Methods: The study included 18 patients with immediate hypersensitivity to coconut milk, including five who developed anaphylaxis.

Food allergy in Sri Lanka - A comparative study.

Background: The incidence of IgE mediated food allergy (FA) is increasing in the west. Cow's milk (CM), hen's egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish are responsible for 90% of food allergy in the west; however, local dietary habits may result in specific allergies. Data on food allergies in South Asia is scarce.

Autoimmune encephalitis in a South Asian population.

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is now considered a main, potentially curable cause of encephalitis, but remains conspicuously underreported from South Asia. We studied the clinical characteristics in relation to their antibody status and outcomes of patients presenting with AE in Sri Lanka.

Methods: Patients admitting to government hospitals who were clinically suspected of AE by an on-site neurologist were prospectively recruited over a period of 12 months.

Hyper IgE recurrent infection syndrome in South Asia: is there a different outcome?

Background: Hyper IgE recurrent infection syndrome (HIES) is a rare immune deficiency, characterized by recurrent staphylococcal skin and lung abscesses, pneumonia and increased IgE levels. The majority of autosomal dominant HIES (AD HIGE) is due to hypomorphic mutations in the signal transducer and the activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene.

Case Presentation: Five patients were diagnosed with HIES, based on the clinical criteria and scoring system developed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.