Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A S Dissanaike.
What is considered to be the first case of human parastrongyliasis (angiostrongyliasis) worldwide is described from a patient in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1925. It also predates the description of the parasite in humans by Chen (1935).
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A further case of ocular parastrongyliasis has been seen in a patient from Sri Lanka. As it is a juvenile female worm it could not be identified to the species, but it is probably Parastrongylus (= Angiostrongylus) cantonensis which is the commonly reported species in the country. This is the third authentic case of such an infection in Sri Lanka in recent years.
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A species of Brugia, probably B. ceylonensis, was recovered from the conjunctiva of a patient in Sri Lanka for the first time. This infection represents only the second record of Brugia in the human conjunctiva, and is clearly zoonotic, acquired from a dog. Brugia ceylonensis has a distinct head bulb like that of Wuchereria bancrofti and B. malayi. However, the parasite recovered was not W. bancrofti, as specific IFAT and DNA probes gave negative results, and B. malayi is believed to have been eradicated from Sri Lanka several years ago. The presence of a distinct head bulb excludes the possibility that the parasite was B. buckleyi.
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Rhinosporidiosis is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. Most mycologists believe that R. seeberi is either a Chytridium related to the Olpidiaceae (order Chytridialis, class Chytridiomycetes) or a Synchytrium. This is the first documented case of tumoral rhinosporidiosis in a Sri Lankan and the third documented case in the world literature. A 44 year old male presented with a large mass above the thigh and a similar mass over the anterior chest wall, both masses contained R. seeberi. Later examination of the patient revealed nasal polyps, confirming that the tumors were due to systemic spread of this infection.
OBJECTIVE: To report and create awareness of sparganosis, a parasitic zoonosis caused by a larval stage of Spirometra sp. SETTING: Two patients with non-tender subcutaneous lumps. DIAGNOSIS CRITERIA: Morphology of solid cestode larva in excision biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Although these two instances were innocuous, infection is potentially dangerous as larvae are long lived and could invade vital organs. The most likely source of infection in Sri Lanka is ingestion of the infected first intermediate host, Cyclops, in water.
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Human dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens is a common zoonotic infection in Sri Lanka. Todate 70 cases are on record, and they include 3 expatriates from Russia, England and Korea, who were undoubtedly infected in Sri Lanka. Around 30-60% of dogs are infected with D. repens in various parts of the country and the mosquito vectors are Aedes aegypti, Armigeres subalbatus, Mansonia uniformis and M. annulifera. Unlike in other countries of the old world infection is most common in children under the age of 9 years, the youngest being 4 months old and the scrotum, penis and perianal regions of male children appear to be frequent sites for the worms. Dirofilaria (Dirofilaria) immitis is not present in Sri Lanka though it is present in neighbouring countries like India, and Malaysia.
A metastrongyle worm extracted from the anterior chamber of the right eye of a patient in Sri Lanka belongs to the genus Parastrongylus and probably to a yet undescribed species, related to P. cantonensis well known to infect man. It is mostly a parasite of rodents, wandering in man and unadapted to this host. Evidence for this lack of adaptation are that the specimen is undergoing necrosis (teratological specimen) and is located in an organ with little immunological defences.
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The changes in the prevalence and distribution of bancroftian filariasis in Ceylon/Sri Lanka since Professor Kershaw's visit in 1961 show that the infection has spread over a wider area, although the microfilaria rates have decreased. New information is available on the vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, and more details are available on the animal filariae and their vectors. Dirofilaria repens infection of dogs is now a proven zoonosis in the country.
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