Bhagya Jayathilake

Ms. Bhagya Jayathilake


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
24 January 2026 in Viruses
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Aruna AmbagalaAruna Ambagala
Aruna Ambagala
SPSumathy Puvanendiran
Sumathy Puvanendiran
BJBhagya Jayathilake
Bhagya Jayathilake
Kalhari Venukala Bandara GoonewardeneKalhari Venukala Bandara Goonewardene
Kalhari Venukala Bandara Goonewardene
OHOrie Hochman
Orie Hochman
HKHemal Kothalawala
Hemal Kothalawala
African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread, threatening the global swine industry and endangered swine species. Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated south of India in the Indian Ocean. Here, we report the first detection of ASF in Sri Lanka. In September 2024, increased pig mortality was reported across the country, with initial confirmation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). Despite vaccination for PRRS, the mortalities continued to increase and therefore, tissue samples collected from dead pigs were subjected to ASF real-time PCR. ASFV genomic material was detected in most of the samples. The real-time PCR-positive samples were then subjected to genotyping by partial genome sequencing. All p72 and p54 sequences were found to be aligned with ASFV genotype II viruses, and CD2v sequences were found to be aligned with ASFV serogroup 8 viruses. The real-time PCR-positive samples were inoculated onto primary porcine leukocytes for virus isolation, and a selected number of tissues collected from dead pigs were subjected to histopathology. Histopathological studies revealed widespread loss of lymphocytes together with inflammation and extensive staining of ASFV antigens in tissue samples. Hemadsorption (HAD)-positive isolates were obtained from seven clinical samples, and three of them were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogeographic analysis of the whole-genome sequences showed that the virus is closely related to ASFV strains circulating in China and Hong Kong.