Your search found 28 records
1 Briet, Olivier J. T.; Galappaththy, G. N. L.; Konradsen, Flemming; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Amerasinghe, Felix Prashantha. 2005. Maps of the Sri Lanka malaria situation preceding the tsunami and key aspects to be considered in the emergency phase and beyond. Malaria Journal, 4(8):11p.
Malaria ; Maps ; Disease vectors ; Waterborne diseases ; Public health ; Natural disasters ; Reservoirs / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: IWMI 616.9362 G744 BRI Record No: H036727)
2 Briet, Olivier J. T.; Vounatsou, Penelope; Gunawardena, Dissanayake M.; Galappaththy, Gawrie N. L.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2008. Temporal correlation between malaria and rainfall in Sri Lanka. Malaria Journal, 7(77): 14p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 614.532 G744 BRI Record No: H041347)
Background: Rainfall data have potential use for malaria prediction. However, the relationship between rainfall and the number of malaria cases is indirect and complex. Methods: The statistical relationships between monthly malaria case count data series and monthly mean rainfall series (extracted from interpolated station data) over the period 1972 – 2005 in districts in Sri Lanka was explored in four analyses: cross-correlation; cross-correlation with pre-whitening; inter-annual; and seasonal inter-annual regression. Results: For most districts, strong positive correlations were found for malaria time series lagging zero to three months behind rainfall, and negative correlations were found for malaria time series lagging four to nine months behind rainfall. However, analysis with pre- whitening showed that most of these correlations were spurious. Only for a few districts, weak positive (at lags zero and one) or weak negative (at lags two to six) correlations were found in pre- whitened series. Inter-annual analysis showed strong negative correlations between malaria and rainfall for a group of districts in the centre-west of the country. Seasonal inter-annual analysis showed that the effect of rainfall on malaria varied according to the season and geography. Conclusion: Seasonally varying effects of rainfall on malaria case counts may explain weak overall cross-correlations found in pre-whitened series, and should be taken into account in malaria predictive models making use of rainfall as a covariate.
3 Briet, Olivier J. T.; Vounatsou, Penelope; Gunawardena, Dissanayake M.; Galappaththy, Gawrie N. L.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2008. Models for short term malaria prediction in Sri Lanka. Malaria Journal, 7(76):11p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 616.9362 BRI Record No: H041349)
4 Karunaratne, A. M.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Ramanujam, V. M. S.; Sandstead, H. H.; Perera, P. A. J. 2008. Zinc, iron and phytic acid levels of some popular foods consumed by rural children in Sri Lanka. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 21: 481-488.
Food consumption ; Cereals ; Rice ; Zinc ; Iron ; Phytic acid ; Bioavailability ; Drinking water / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 613.2 G744 KAR Record No: H041401)
Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiencies may prevail in populations dependent on cereal-based diets containing few animal products. The contribution of Zn and Fe from foods of preschool children of a hill country village in Sri Lanka, is discussed as it is known that the presence of phytic acid (PA) in the diet limits bioavailability of micronutrients. The Zn, Fe and PA contents of cereal-based (rice or wheat flour) composite meals (n ¼ 12), wheat flour-based products (n ¼ 5), pulses used as staples, snacks or accompaniments (n ¼ 6) and other miscellaneous accompaniments (n ¼ 4) were determined. Additionally, 20 rice and 3 paddy varieties consumed were also analysed. Although the Zn and Fe levels were reasonable in the composite meals, the PA to Zn molar ratios (5–43) were relatively high, in a majority of meals. Composite meals containing wheat flour (refined) had lower PA levels (o6 mg/ 100 g) in the absence of pulses and scraped coconut, than rice meals. All rice varieties were partially polished but the A to Zn molar ratios varied. The major contributors of PA appeared to be soy-textured vegetable protein, all types of jak fruit and scraped coconut kernel. Potable water was a poor source of Zn and Fe. These diets could potentially lead to marginal Zn and Fe deficiencies, and dietary diversification and counselling would be beneficial.
5 Zubair, L.; Galappaththy, G. N.; Yang, H.; Chandimala, J.; Yahiya, Z.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Ward, N.; Connor, S. J. 2008. Epochal changes in the association between malaria epidemics and El Nino in Sri Lanka. Malaria Journal, 7(140): 37p.
Malaria ; Epidemics ; History ; Waterborne diseases ; Disease vectors ; Environmental effects ; Rain ; Climate ; Analysis / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 614.532 G744 ZUB Record No: H041471)
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-7-140.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041471.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041471.pdf
6 Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Alifrangis, M.; van der Hoek, Wim; Wirtz, R. A.; Amerasinghe, Felix P.; Konradsen, Flemming. 2005. Optimizing malarial epidemiological studies in areas of low transmission. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 36(5):1079-1084.
Malaria ; Epidemics ; Waterborne diseases ; Analysis ; Surveys ; Villages / Sri Lanka / Mahameegaswewa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 614.532 G744 AME Record No: H041472)
Malaria risk factor studies have traditionally used microscopy readings of blood slides as the measure of malaria infection in humans, although alternatives are available. There is the need for an assessment of how the use of these alternative diagnostic approaches will influence the efficiency and significance of epidemiological studies. In an area of Sri Lanka with known risk factors for malaria, two cross-sectional surveys were done at the start and at the peak of transmission season. Microscopy was compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The major risk factor in this area was the location of houses relative to confirmed vector breeding sites. At the peak of the transmission season, the results pointed in the same direction, irrespective of the diagnostic method used. However, the importance of distance from the breeding site was not statistically significant when microscopy was used, which can be explained by the lower prevalence of microscopy positivity in comparison to the prevalence of ELISAand PCR-positivity. This study suggests that in low-transmission areas, such as Sri Lanka, smaller sample sizes can be used for epidemiological research studies using PCR instead of microscopy to estimate parasite prevalence. This efficiency gain has to be weighed against the higher cost and complexity of the PCR. PCR cannot replace microscopy as the standard diagnostic procedure at the field level. ELISA is not directly comparable with microscopy and PCR but it can also be a useful tool in malaria epidemiological studies. This study indicates that cross-sectional surveys are only efficient if they take place during peak transmission season. Cross sectional surveys currently implemented by the Sri Lankan government in response to local malaria outbreaks can form the basis for valid epidemiological studies and be used for the generation of malaria risk maps if samples were also analyzed using PCR.
7 Rajakaruna, R. S.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Galappaththy, G. N. L.; Konradsen, F.; Briet, Olivier J. T.; Alifrangis, M. 2008. Current status of malaria and anti-malarial drug resistance in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences), 37(1):15-22.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 614.532 G744 RAJ, PER Record No: H041484)
http://www.sljol.info/index.php/CJSBS/article/viewPDFInterstitial/493/531
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041484.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041484.pdf
Even though malaria continues to cause high morbidity and mortality in most of the malaria endemic countries in the world, it is currently not a major health problem in Sri Lanka. Despite the low malaria incidence, the development and spread of anti-malarial drug resistance, combined with a recent increase in the armed conflict hindering provision of effective health services will make it difficult to control malaria in Sri Lanka. Since chloroquine (CQ) resistant Plasmodium falciparum was first reported from Dambulla area in 1984, the number has increased to more than 50% observed in vivo from various endemic areas. In concordance with this, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of P. falciparum responsible for CQ resistance are present. A limited number of trials have investigated the efficacy of the second line drug, sulfadoxine/ pyrimethamine (SP) against P. falciparum and a few cases of resistance have been reported. Moreover, SNPs in P. falciparum genes responsible for SP resistance are present and may constitute a sign of evolving SP resistance development. For P. vivax, drug resistance is not yet recorded as a problem in Sri Lanka, however the prevalence of SP resistant SNPs in P. vivax populations seems high and may pose a risk despite that SP is not used directly against P. vivax infections. Continuous monitoring of drug efficacy in vivo, as well by measuring the prevalence of SNPs related to drug resistance are major issues to be addressed.
8 Namara, Regassa E.; Giordano, Meredith; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Boelee, Eline; Weligamage, Parakrama; Weerasinghe, A.; Jayanetti, S. R.; Yapabandara, A. M. G. M. 2008. An impact assessment of malaria control through environmental and irrigation water management. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences), 37(1):107-128.
Malaria ; Control methods ; Impact assessment ; Waterborne diseases ; Public health ; Environmental management ; Irrigation management ; Surveys ; Villages ; Households ; Models / Sri Lanka / Anuradhapura District / Upper Yan Oya Catchmeny / Huruluwewa Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 614.532 G744 NAM, PER Record No: H041543)
9 Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Devenish, C.; Suleman, K. B. 2008. Rainwater harvesting potential for urban agriculture in Hyderabad. Urban Agriculture Magazine, 20:34-36.
Urban agriculture ; Water harvesting ; Water storage ; Groundwater recharge ; Food security / India / Hyderabad / Musi River / Surabhi Colony
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H041619)
http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/UAM%2020%20-%20pagina%2034-36.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041619.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H041619.pdf
(207.67 KB)
10 Briet, Olivier J. T.; Vounatsou, P.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2008. Malaria seasonality and rainfall seasonality in Sri Lanka are correlated in space. Geospatial Health, 2(2):183-190.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 614.532 G744 BRI Record No: H041642)
11 Villholth, Karen G.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Jeyakumar, P. 2008. Tsunami impacts on shallow groundwater and associated water supplies on the east coast of Sri Lanka. In Bhattacharya, P.; Ramanathan, A. L.; Mukherjee, A. B.; Bundschuh, J.; Chandrasekharam, D.; Keshari, A. K. (Eds.). Groundwater for sustainable development: problems, perspectives and challenges. London, UK: Taylor & Francis. pp.211-222.
Tsunamis ; Coastal area ; Groundwater ; Aquifers ; Wells ; Flooding ; Monitoring ; Drinking water ; Salinity ; Water supply / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 333.9104 G744 VIL Record No: H041664)
In order to assess the immediate and intermediate impacts of the December 26, 2004 tsunami on groundwater and associated water supply on the east coast of Sri Lanka, a monitoring program, focusing on domestic drinking water wells, was conducted in three study areas in the period March to July, 2005. The areas investigated were overlaying shallow, unconfined sandy aquifers, and the topography was flat. A total of 150 wells were monitored, covering both affected (inundated by tsunami water) and unaffected wells. Results indicate that wells were affected by salinity intrusion to various degree between the sites and within sites, up to 1.5 km inland. Thirty nine percent of all monitored wells had been flooded within a distance of 2 km from the coastline. Salinity levels after seven months after the tsunami were above a defined drinking water acceptability criterion (1000 µS/cm) in the majority of the affected, tsunami-flooded wells (91%). Excess salinity in wells is expected to persist for at least one more monsoon season.
12 Jacobi, J.; Drescher, A. W.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Weckenbrock, P. 2009. Agricultural biodiversity strengthening livelihoods in Periurban Hyderabad, India. Urban Agriculture Magazine, 22:45-47.
Wastewater irrigation ; Vegetable growing ; Vegetable crops ; Diversification ; Suburban agriculture ; Periurban areas ; Farmers ; Women / India / Hyderabad / Musi River
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042332)
http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/BDU-09222-UAM22%20WEB.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H042332.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H042332.pdf
(0.26 MB)
In periurban Hyderabad, India, leafy vegetables are increasingly grown along the Musi River and sold in urban markets. This agricultural biodiversity can significantly help urban and periurban farmers become more resilient to the impacts of such changes.
13 Rajakaruna, R. S.; Piyatissa, P. M. J. R.; Jayawardena, U. A.; Navaratne, A. N.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2008. Trematode infection induced malformations in the common hourglass treefrogs. Journal of Zoology, 275:89-95.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042478)
(0.57 MB)
Reports on malformations in amphibians due to trematode infections prompted this study on an endemic frog species in Sri Lanka. The effect of an infection with a monostome-type cercaria is reported here. Ten days post-hatch, tadpoles (Gosner stage 27) of the common hourglass treefrog Polypedates cruciger (Anura: Ranidae), were exposed to a monostome-type cercaria, in a dose-dependent manner, under laboratory conditions. Malformations, survival and growth of the tadpoles were monitored for four treatments having different doses of cercariae (control=0, low=16, intermediate=32 and high=48). The severity and the number of malformations varied depending on the dose of the infection. A higher percentage (90%) of malformations was observed at higher doses of cercariae. Overall, malformations in the limbs, spine and skin pigmentation were common after parasite exposure. Survival declined with increasing doses of parasite infections, declining to 88% in the high treatment group, although not statistically significant. The growth rates of tadpoles as measured by weight and snout to vent length showed that exposed individuals were significantly smaller and had higher variance in growth compared with that of the controls. Thus, this trematode infection significantly affected the growth and induced severe malformations in P. cruciger, under laboratory conditions. Such malformed tadpoles and adults may face high predation under natural conditions. Here, we present the first empirical evidence of the effect of a trematode infection on the development of malformations, growth and survivorship in an endemic amphibian species in Sri Lanka.
14 Jacobi, J.; Drescher, A. W.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2009. Crop diversity as a livelihood strategy?: the case of wastewater irrigated vegetable cultivation along the Musi River in periurban Hyderabad, India. [Abstract only]. In Tielkes, E. (Ed.). Biophysical and socio-economic frame conditions for the sustainable management of natural resources. Book of abstracts. International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Tropentag Congress, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, 6-8 October 2009. Witzenhausen, Germany: German Institute for Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics. pp.111.
Wastewater irrigation ; Rivers ; Urban agriculture ; Vegetable growing ; Adaptation / India / Hyderabad / Musi River
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042559)
(0.06 MB)
Along the Musi River in periurban Hyderabad, leafy vegetables are increasingly grown and sold in urban markets. Wide areas are irrigated with river water, highly polluted by sewage and industrial wastewater. Previous studies showed that periurban agriculture in Hyderabad plays an important role for the livelihoods of a diverse group of people, many of whom are women, from different castes, religions and social classes. During a field study in 2007 (in cooperation with the International Water Management Institute and the University of Freiburg, Germany), a rapid appraisal of vegetables cultivated with wastewater irrigation was carried out. In order to estimate the risk from pathogens for consumers, the percentage of vegetables consumed raw was calculated. A large number of vegetable varieties were found in the vegetable gardens, also in those where wastewater was used for irrigation, contrary to expectations. The leafy vegetables - traditionally in high demand - have a short growing season and fetch high market prices due to their usage in traditional dishes. In 2008, the study was extended to explore the role of agricultural biodiversity for livelihoods and building resilience using the sustainable livelihoods approach as theoretical background. 54 varieties of vegetables from 20 families were identified. Among those, 18 were cultivated for the leaves most of which were usually cooked. There was no significant difference in biodiversity (Shannon-Index and Simpson-Index were calculated) between wastewater and groundwater irrigated fields, but a significant difference in the species composition (almost 95% leafy vegetables where wastewater was used, around 70% fruit bearing vegetables where groundwater was used for irrigation) for several reasons such as insecure land tenure, water and soil quality, risk mitigation and market demand. Previous studies show that the use of wastewater for irrigation can have both positive and negative effects on agriculture. Besides possible health risks, fertiliser costs could be saved due to the high nutrient content of the wastewater. Agricultural Biodiversity is thus not necessarily diminished by the use of wastewater and can contribute in many ways to resilience, some of which are analysed and discussed in the study.
15 Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Ishaq, S.; Radar, V. 2009. Annual report RUAF - Cities farming for the future, South and South East Asia Region, 2008. Hyderabad, India: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF). 113p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042560)
(0.69 MB)
This report documents the fourth year and final report of the RUAF-CFF programme in the South and South East Asia region, coordinated by the International Water Management Institute, Hyderabad office, India. It is arranged in three sections: Introduction, activities for the year 2008 and cumulative results of 2005 -2008. The overall content reflects the activates, outcomes and outputs of the four year RAFT-CFF programme.
16 Briet, O. J. T.; Vounatsou, P.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2009. GSARIMA, a tool for malaria time series analysis during advanced phases of elimination campaigns with low case numbers. [MIM14819027] [Abstract only]. In Abstracts of the 5th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 2-6 November 2009. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MI) Secretariat. pp.80-81.
(Location: IWMI HQ Record No: H042561)
With the renewed drive towards malaria elimination, there is a need for improved surveillance tools. While time series analysis is an important tool for surveillance, prediction and for measuring interventions' impact, approximations by standard Gassing methods are inaccuracy-prone when counts are low. Therefore, especially during "consolidation" and "pre-elimination" phases, statistical methods appropriate for count data are required.
Methods: Generalized antiprogressive moving average models (GARCIA) were extended to generalized seasonal antiprogressive integrated moving average (SABRINA) models for modeling non-stationary and / or seasonal time series counts. The models were demonstrated using monthly malaria episode time series in a district in Sri Lanka, where malaria has decreased dramatically in recent years.
Results: The malaria series showed long-term changes in the mean, unstable variance, and seasonality. After fitting negative-binomial Bayesian models, both a GSARIMA and a GARIMA deterministic seasonality model were selected. The Bayesian modeling allowed for analysis of the posterior distributions of fitted observations. Those of negative-binomial models were more appropriate than those of Gaussian models. The G(S)ARIMA models satisfactorily accounted for the autocorrelation in the series, and produced plausible prediction intervals.
Discussion: GSARIMA models may be particularly useful in the drive towards malaria elimination, since episode count series are often seasonal and non-stationary, especially when control is increased. Although building and fitting of GSARIMA models is laborious, they provide more realistic prediction intervals than Gaussian methods, and are more suitable for surveillance and the evaluation of interventions when counts are low.
Methods: Generalized antiprogressive moving average models (GARCIA) were extended to generalized seasonal antiprogressive integrated moving average (SABRINA) models for modeling non-stationary and / or seasonal time series counts. The models were demonstrated using monthly malaria episode time series in a district in Sri Lanka, where malaria has decreased dramatically in recent years.
Results: The malaria series showed long-term changes in the mean, unstable variance, and seasonality. After fitting negative-binomial Bayesian models, both a GSARIMA and a GARIMA deterministic seasonality model were selected. The Bayesian modeling allowed for analysis of the posterior distributions of fitted observations. Those of negative-binomial models were more appropriate than those of Gaussian models. The G(S)ARIMA models satisfactorily accounted for the autocorrelation in the series, and produced plausible prediction intervals.
Discussion: GSARIMA models may be particularly useful in the drive towards malaria elimination, since episode count series are often seasonal and non-stationary, especially when control is increased. Although building and fitting of GSARIMA models is laborious, they provide more realistic prediction intervals than Gaussian methods, and are more suitable for surveillance and the evaluation of interventions when counts are low.
17 Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2009. Management of water resources and health safeguards in South Asia: the present scenario. Paper presented at the Staff Training Program on Water and Health, organised by Crossing Boundaries Project - SaciWATERs, 16-23 February 2009. 2p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042563)
(0.13 MB)
Water resources management is important for the developmental processes of any country, as the demand for water for all forms life and sectors is increasing. Closely linked to water development is health, where water acts as a vehicle for all types of diseases and plays a vital role in sanitation as well. As such, there is a great need for water resources management, to address health safeguards, which are often not looked at, in a holistic manner. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) affords the best practise, for such an effort, as it aims to bring, social, economical and ecological sustainability of resources to communities. Management of water resources in relation to health requires a close collaboration of a number of stakeholders. This session looks at how different countries have looked at health opportunities through water resources management and what needs to be planned for the future in the region.
18 Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.. 2009. Use of re-cycled water and health hazards. Presented at the Staff Training Program on Water and Health, organised by Crossing Boundaries Project - SaciWATERs, 16-23 February 2009. 4p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042564)
(0.15 MB)
Water is essential for life. World over, there is a growing demand for water resources whether it be for agriculture, industry or domestic use. Population increases adds to this burden, and with nearly half the population projected to live in cities by 2020, competition for water resources is ever increasing. Evidence is also mounting on how this precious commodity will be in short supply in the future, while climate change is influencing its distribution in the most unexpected and unpredictable manner. Given these scenarios, it is prudent and timely to re-look at conservation and re-use strategies of water. Many countries around the world are already using reclaimed water as an alternative source for a wide range of applications, including landscape and agricultural toilet and urinal flushing, industrial processing, wetland restoration and ground water recharge. However, water reclamation and re-use is not without consequences. Human health risks associated with the re-use of recycled water is one of the areas that require closer scrutiny and good planning with guidelines and regulations prior to use. This session looks at the water reuse strategies and associated health risks
19 Athuraliya, T. N. C.; Abeysekera, D. T. D. J.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Kumarasiri, P. V. R.; Dissanayake, V. 2009. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in two tertiary care hospitals: high proportion of cases with uncertain aetiology. Research letters. Ceylon Medical Journal, 54(1):23-25.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042628)
(0.16 MB)
20 Villholth, K. G.; Jeyakumar, P.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Manamperi, A. S. P.; Vithanage, M.; Goswami, R. R.; Panabokke, C. R. 2010. Tsunami impacts and rehabilitation of groundwater supply: lessons learned from eastern Sri Lanka. In Jha, M. K. (Ed.). Natural and anthropogenic disasters: vulnerability, preparedness and mitigation. New York, NY, USA: Springer; New Delhi, India: Capital Publishing Company. pp.82-99.
Tsunamis ; Impact assessment ; Groundwater ; Lagoons ; Wells ; Water quality ; Water pollution ; Flooding ; Salinity ; Monitoring ; Drinking water ; Rehabilitation ; Models ; Surveys / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042732)
(1.44 MB)
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