Investigator(s)
| WHO Technical Officer |
Nalika Sepali Gunawardena WCO SRL Nalika Sepali Gunawardena 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Neelika Malavige Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine and Director, Centre for Dengue Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Neelika Malavige
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | Investigating the Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Dengue Infections in Sri Lankan Children |
| Public title | Investigating the Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Dengue Infections in Sri Lankan Children |
| Background | The project is to investigate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and dengue infections in Sri Lankan children and is aligned to the UNITY protocol of WHO on population-based age-stratified seroepidemiological investigation protocol for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection |
| Objectives | Primary objectives are to measure the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children 10 to 19 years by sex, age group, residential setting and vaccination status, in order to ascertain the cumulative immunity among child population and to estimate the fraction of asymptomatic or subclinical infections in the children. Secondary objectives are to investigate if being diagnosed with atopic diseases or obesity is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 disease severity in children who were SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive: to estimate uptake of vaccination against COVID-19 in the population by sex, age and priority target groups; to determine any differences in the ACE2 receptor blocking antibody levels in children 10- to 19-year-old who had asymptomatic vs symptomatic infection; to measure the seroprevalence of dengue antibodies in children 10 to 19 years by sex, age group, residential setting; to investigate if the presence of atopic diseases or obesity is associated with an increased risk of hospitalizations or DHF in children who are dengue antibody positive and to investigate possible association with dengue seropositivity with clinical disease severity of COVID-19. |
| Study Methods | The study design is a one-time cross-sectional and the study population will be a nationally representative sample of 5809 age-stratified sample of 10 to 19 year old children from public school population of Sri Lanka selected using multistage cluster sampling technique with probability proportionate to size of population at district and sector of residence. Epidemiological data including basic demographics and clinical symptoms/clinical diagnosis will be obtained from parents using interviewer administered questionnaire cross checked with medical records. Anthropometry measurements will be done by trained investigators. Minimum specimens required will be collected and the serological analysis and the evaluation of different epidemiological parameters to inform seroepidemiological inferences are aligned to the UNITY protocol. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | This information will help to understand the population immunity in general (vaccine induced and due to natural infection), of SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to understand possible transmission dynamics and disease severity during future infections due to SARS-CoV-2 variants such as Omicron and other emerging new variants. The findings would be submitted to the technical committees on SARS CoV-2 of the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka which will facilitate evidence based decisions on related national guidelines. The findings related to seroprevalence of Dengue will be presented to the Technical committee on Dengue of the Minsitry of Health for evidence based decisions on related national guidelines. The evidence generated will be shared among the scientific community through presentation and journal articles |
| Keywords | sero-prevalence, Dengue, SARS-COV-2 |
Research Details
| Student research | No |
| Start Date | 01-Jun-2022 |
| End Date | 31-Dec-2022 |
| Key Implementing Institution | Neelika Malavige |
| Multi-country research | No |
| Nationwide research | Yes, with randomly selected geographical areas |
| Sri Lanka | |
| Research Domain(s) | Communicable Disease Research |
| Research field(s) | Immunization/Vaccine Preventable Disease |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Population-Based Survey | |
| Data Collection | Primary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | No |