PDRU – Toxoplasmosis

In addition to providing expertise in diagnosis the department of Parasitology has been involved in research into several aspects of toxoplasmosis. Current research foci include utilizing epidemiologic techniques to study the incidence, prevalence, and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis in susceptible human host populations. These studies are closely linked to laboratory research in order to study patient material at a molecular and cellular level.

Contribution to Text Books

  1. Gunawardena S. (2012). Toxoplasmosis: The most extreme parasite. ISBN 978-955-54210-0-3

Papers published in peer reviewed journals

  1. Rajapakse S, Weeratunge P, Rodrigo C, De Silva NL, Fernando SD (2017). Prophylaxis to human toxoplasmosis a systematic review. Pathogens and Global Health. DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2017.1370528.
  2. Rajapakse S, Shivanthan MC, Samaranayake N, Rodrigo C & Fernando SD (2013). Antibiotics for human toxoplasmosis: a systematic review of randomized trials. Pathogens and Global Health, 107 (4), 162-169.
  3. SubasingheS DLP, Karunaweera ND, Kaluarachchi A, Abayaweera CA, Gunatilake MH, Ranawaka J, Jayasundara DMCS, Gunawardena GSA. (2011). Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence among two selected groups of pregnant women. Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases 1: 9-17.
  4. Guneratne R, Mendis D, Bandara T, Fernando SD. Toxoplasma, Toxocara and Tuberculosis co-infection in a four year old child. BMC Pediatrics. 2011;11(1):44.

Published conference proceedings

  1. Cooray NSAR, Samaranayake TN, Karunaweera ND. Prevalence of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised cancer patients attending a tertiary care hospital. 125th   Anniversary International Medical Congress of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2-6th July, 2012. (Abstracted in Ceylon Medical Journal 2012, 57 (supple 1): 148)

Post-graduates research topics

Year Name Degree Title of the Thesis Supervisors Present Position
2012 Dr Nasar Cooray MSc. in Molecular Medicine Prevalence of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised cancer patients attending a tertiary care hospital. Prof. N.D. Karunaweera, Dr. T.N. Samaranayake Dental Surgeon, Institute of Oral Health, Maharagama