Bioaccumulation potential of selected heavy metals viz. Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn in muscle, gills and liver of food fish, Mystus gulio (Anguluwa) inhabiting in Bolgoda Lake were assessed by analyzing metal levels in the fish collected from four main locations: Weras Ganga, North Lake, Bolgoda Ganga and South Lake. In addition, water and sediment samples were taken concurrently from the sampling locations for determination of the metal levels. The metal levels were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry using standard procedures. Dissolved total metal levels in lake water (in µg L-1) varied depending on the sampling location:

We reported the genetic evidence of circulating hantaviruses from small mammals captured in a chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) hotspot area of Sri Lanka. The high seroprevalence of anti-hantavirus antibodies against Thailand orthohantavirus (THAIV) has been reported among CKDu patients and rodents in Sri Lankan CKDu hotspots. We captured 116 small mammals from CKDu endemic regions in the Polonnaruwa District of Sri Lanka. Seven animals (five out of 11 Mus booduga and two out of 99 Rattus rattus) were PCR-positive for the hantavirus. A rat-borne sequence was grouped with a THAIV-like Anjozorobe virus. In contrast, Mus-borne sequences belonged to the THAIV lineage, suggesting a novel orthohantavirus species according to the phylogenetic analyses and whole-genome comparisons. Our genetic evidence indicates the presence of two THAIV-related viruses circulating in this CKDu endemic area, suggesting a basis for further investigations to identify the infectious virus in patients with CKDu and the CKDu induction mechanism of these viruses.

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) are chronic renal diseases that pose a significant health burden in Sri Lanka. Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis that primarily damages kidney tissues via colonization of Leptospira spp. in the renal tubules and is a suspected etiological agent of CKDu. Since Sri Lanka is a leptospirosis endemic country where outbreaks of the disease have been reported, this study aimed to find the association between leptospirosis and chronic renal disease in two geographically distinct regions of Sri Lanka, Kandy (CKDu non-endemic) and Badulla (CKDu endemic) districts. Forty-nine chronic renal disease patients and 135 controls from Kandy and 89 chronic renal disease patients and 149 controls from Badulla were examined serologically by microscopic agglutination test with a panel of 11 Leptospira serogroups. A seroprevalence of 35.3% and 32.5% for leptospirosis was observed in the Girandurukotte CKDu group and Girandurukotte control group respectively, while a seroprevalence of 36.7% and 31.9% were observed in the Kandy CKDu group and Kandy control group respectively. No statistically significant differences in leptospirosis seropositivity were observed between the chronic renal disease and control groups in both districts. However, further longitudinal studies assessing renal colonization among chronic renal patients and healthy individuals are required to conclusively state whether leptospirosis plays an important role in chronic renal disease development and/or progression in Sri Lanka.