Spatio-temporal variation of microbial indicators of river water and treatment efficiencies of drinking water treatment plants along the upper Mahaweli river segment of Sri Lanka.

The microbial pollution status of river surface water is important to ensure a river-based quality drinking water supply for the public. The present study aimed to investigate bacterial contamination status in the upper Mahaweli River, the main drinking water supplier to the hill country of Sri Lanka. Both the raw surface water and treated water, taken at 14 drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) along the river segment of 60 km between Kotmale and Victoria reservoirs, were tested for total bacterial counts (TBC), total coliform counts (TCC) and faecal coliform counts (FCC).

18-month longitudinal SARS COV-2 neutralizing antibody dynamics in haemodialysis patients receiving heterologous 3-dose vaccination (AZD-1222- AZD-1222- BNT162b2) in a lower middle income setting.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis (HD) were given priority COVID-19 vaccination due to increased disease risk. The immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients on HD was diminished compared to healthy individuals in 2-dose studies. This study aimed to evaluate seroconversion rate, neutralizing antibody (nAB) levels and longitudinal antibody dynamics to 3-dose heterologous vaccination against COVID-19 in a cohort of HD patients compared to healthy controls and assess patient factors associated with antibody levels.

Quality of the sample-based RNA determines the real-time RT-PCR results in the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.

Effect of the quality of sample-based RNA on COVID-19 real-time RT-PCR results was investigated. The purity of the extracts was dependent on the extraction method (P<0.0001) and affected the test interpretations (P = 0.

Epidemiology and risk factors of respiratory syncytial virus associated acute respiratory tract infection in hospitalized children younger than 5 years from Sri Lanka.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the prevalence and seasonal patterns of RSV and to determine the actual and predictive association of RSV-associated ARTI and clinical, socio-demographic, and climatic risk factors in children < 5 years.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 500 children < 5 years admitted to the Kegalle General Hospital, Sri Lanka between May 2016 to July 2018.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of human bocavirus-1 infection in patients with acute respiratory tract infections during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.

Background: Human bocavirus-1 (hBoV-1) was first detected in respiratory specimens in 2005. Due to high co-infection rates and prolonged shedding of the virus, the pathogenic role of hBoV-1 as a primary causative agent of respiratory infections is still under discussion. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hBoV-1 infection in patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.