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PubMed2026

Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and antibiotic resistance genes from culturable bacteria in drinking water sources along the Upper Mahaweli River, Sri Lanka.

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (AR-E. coli) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments pose a serious threat to public health. However, their presence in river water in South Asian countries is not well established. The present study investigated AR-E. coli and ARGs from culturable bacteria in drinking water sources from 14 drinking water treatment plants situated along the Upper Mahaweli River, a tropical central hill-country river system in Sri Lanka. A total of 167 E. coli isolates were tested against ten antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer method, and genomic DNA from culturable bacteria in 45 water samples were screened for 11 ARGs using PCR. Overall, 60.48% E. coli isolates exhibited resistance to at least one antibiotic and multidrug resistance was detected in 27.54%. Highest resistance was for amoxicillin (47.31%), tetracycline (26.95%), and co-trimoxazole (24.55%) and four antibiotics showed seasonal variation. ARGs, dominated by blaTEM (80.0%), tetA (66.67%), and tetM and qnrS (62.22%) were detected in 42.42% PCR assays (n = 210). Multiple antibiotic resistance index varied from 0.00 to 0.80, with 44.91% exceeding the 0.2 threshold value, and the antibiotic resistance index varied from 0.00 to 0.32, with eight above the threshold (≥ 0.2). Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped majority of drinking water sources into the intermediate category while few were categorized under low (Kotagala and Thalawakelle-Galkanda) and high (Haragama, Paradeka, and Nawalapitiya), reflecting the variability of anthropogenic interference. Results highlight the risk associated with AR-E. coli and ARGs from culturable bacteria in one of Sri Lanka's key drinking water sources. Proactive interventions ensuring long-term safety of drinking water sources are urgently needed to safeguard public health.

Sri Lanka↗

PubMed1988

Malaria outbreaks in new foci in Sri Lanka.

During its Malaria Eradication Programme (1958-1964) Sri Lanka spectacularly reduced its malaria incidence from around half a million per year to 17. Regrettably, this magnificent achievement could not be maintained, and malaria once again reached epidemic proportions in some areas. Of particular concern however, has been the emergence of new foci of malaria around the hill capital, Kandy, discussed here by Manel Wijesundera. The new outbreaks seem intimately related to hydrological changes brought about by major irrigation and hydroelectric schemes on the Mahaweli river. The priority for such schemes is not, of course, to flush out the pools where mosquito larvae thrive, but to divert water for irrigation and power generation. In parallel, human migration between malaria endemic and non-endemic areas - stimulated by the resettlement required by the dam reservoirs - has contributed to increased malaria transmission. In a sense therefore, this story is a classic of health impact overlooked in favour of agricultural and industrial development. But whereas most documented cases relate to extensive flooding causing an increase in vector breeding sites and so exacerbating disease transmission, this story is just the opposite. Here, it is reduction in water flow that has promoted an increase in vector breeding.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Reality of irrigation water use and suggestions for better management: a comparison of two schemes from Sri Lanka.

In the dry zone of Sri Lanka, where agriculture is the main livelihood, both farmers and water managers target the best use of water. System H is an area that had been developed for irrigated agriculture using diversions from the River Mahaweli. Study of water use practices was carried out in two irrigation schemes where farmers cultivate the same crop in one-hectare allotments under the support and supervision of the same regional authority. Records of water use and agriculture are not well maintained. Using field visits, discussions with farmers, and meetings with officials were used to fill data gaps and three water issue scenarios were compared. Results of each scheme varied because water release and rotation practices for crop growth are quite different from each other, canal efficiency assumptions are different, land preparation, water use and quantity are dissimilar, and water releases do not consider much about growth stages. The study indicated that use of challenging water issues considering co-ordinated and rational grouping of canals could lead to a saving of 10-30 cm of water per unit area. A discussion of the need for a critical evaluation of guidelines and the present practice of cultivation is included.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2006

Anopheline breeding in river bed pools below major dams in Sri Lanka.

Anopheline mosquito larval surveys were carried out from September 2000 to August 2002 in Mahaweli and Kelani river beds, below five major dams in the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka, to study the prevalence of anopheline species in these areas. In each study site, all permanent and semi-permanent pools were surveyed fortnightly by dipping at 6 dips/m(2) surface area of water. Larvae were collected in separate containers, staged and identified at their third and fourth stages. During each survey, the surface area and depth of pools were recorded and each reading was considered as an individual observation. River bed pools below the dams contained stagnant clean water with a little or no aquatic vegetation. The majority of pools were < or =1m(2) in surface area and < or =75 cm in depth. Anopheline mosquito breeding was seen throughout the year in each study site. The average percentage of pools positive for anopheline larvae, the number of larvae per 100 pools and 100 dips were 14.85%, 32.34 and 9.29, respectively. Thirteen anopheline species, including 10 potential vectors, namely, An. barbirostris, An. culicifacies, An. jamesii, An. maculatus, An. nigerrimus, An. peditaeniatus, An. subpictus, An. tessellatus, An. vagus and An. varuna were found breeding in the river bed pools.

Animals↗