Dulari S. Thilakarathne

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Dr. D. S. Thilakarathne

BVSc(Peradeniya),PhD (University of Melbourne)
Senior Lecturer
Address:

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science,
University of Peradeniya,
Peradeniya,20400

Contact:

Phone:+94 081 2395721(office)
Email:dulari@vet.pdn.ac.lk
das@pdn.ac.lk

  • 2025 India-Science Research Fellowship (ISRF) 2024-25 to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly
  • 2024 Recognition awards of research grant recipients 2023, iPURSE 2024
  • 2022 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Fellowship to Institute of Parasitology, Vienna, Austria
  • 2021 Nomination for Bart Rispens Research Award (Journal of Avian Pathology)
  • 2019 NRC Merit Award for Scientific Research, National Research Council, Sri Lanka
  • 2014 Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • 2014 Melbourne International Research Scholarship, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • 2012 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK
  • 2012 Award for the best presentation in animal production in Annual Scientific Sessions of the SLVA, Sri Lanka Veterinary Association, Sri Lanka
  • 2009 Prof. S.T. Fernando Memorial Prize for excellence in Veterinary Parasitology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • 2006-Dr & Mrs. M. P. Seneviratne Gold Medal for Veterinary Parasitology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Undergraduate Teaching _ BVSc program:
  • Veterinary Parasitology
  • Veterinary Integrated Sciences
  • Research
    • Postgraduate Teaching _ MSC in Applied Epidemiology at Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIS), University of Peradeniya:
  • ZLE506 Zoonoses & Public Health

  • Intracellular pathogens, Vector-borne and Zoonotic pathogens, Acquired drug resistance in pathogens

    • Principal Investigator, International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Project Grant (IAEA/CRP No. 26954) Received €50,000 to investigate: “Detection of anthelmintic resistance in Haemonchus contortus infecting goats in Sri Lanka, and the efficacy of an irradiated Haemonchus contortus larval vaccine in controlling anthelmintic-resistant haemonchosis.”
    • Principal Investigator, University of Peradeniya Research Grant (URG/2022/67V) Received LKR 1,200,000 to investigate: “Molecular detection and characterization of zoonotic pathogens in ticks infesting companion animals and livestock in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.”

    Position MPhil. / PhD. current completed
    Co supervisor MPhil 3 1
    Supervisor MPhil. / PhD. MPhil(2) PhD(1)
    Completed supervisions:
    • Co-supervisor of the MPhil completed by Mr. Magage Lenin Indrajith De Silva (VPEU/MPhil/VPB/2022/02)
      Thesis title; Morphological and Molecular Characterisation of Digeneans (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda) Endoparasitic in Marine Snakes of Sri Lanka

    • Thilakarathne, D.S., Gamage, B.Y.I., Kottawatta, K.S.A., Abayawansha, K.G.R., Gunawardana, W.S.N. and Kalupahana, R.S., 2025. Decadal trends in antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in chicken from small-scale farm shops in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 52(4). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v52i4.11910
    • Ranaraja, D.M.A.E., Mahakapuge, T.A.N., Thilakarathne, D.S., Dharmasuriya, J.Y.C. and Rajapakse, R.P.V.J., 2022. Hepatic trematode Platynosomum sp.(Dicrocoeliidae) from a domestic cat in Colombo, Sri Lanka: Case report and molecular identification. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, p.100762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100762
    • Salgadu, A., Firestone, S.M., Watt, A., Thilakarathne, D.S., Condello, A.K., Siu, D., Masukagami, Y., Tivendale, K.A., Stevenson, M.A., Mansell, P.D. and Browning, G.F., 2022. Evaluation of the MilA ELISA for the diagnosis of herd infection with Mycoplasma bovis using bulk tank milk and estimation of the prevalence of M. bovis in Australia. Veterinary Microbiology, p.109454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109454
    • Jayakantha, D.R., Bandara, H.M.N., Gunawardana, N.M., Rajapakse, R.J., Thilakarathne, D.S., Comini, E., Gunawardhana, N. and Karunarathne, S.M.M.L., 2022. Design and construction of a low cost air purifier for killing harmful airborne microorganisms using a combination of a strong multi-directional electric- field and an ultra violet light. HardwareX, 11, p.e00279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00279
    • Thilakarathne, D.S., Hartley, C.A., Diaz-Méndez, A., Quinteros, J.A., Fakhri, O., Coppo, M.J. and Devlin, J.M., 2020. Latency characteristics in specific pathogen free chickens 21 and 35 days after intratracheal inoculation with vaccine or field strains of infectious laryngotracheitis virus. Avian Pathology, 49(4), pp. 369-379. https://doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2020.1754331
    • Thilakarathne, D.S., Noormohammadi, A.H., Browning, G.F., Quinteros, J.A., Underwood, G.J., Hartley, C.A., Coppo, M.J., Devlin, J.M. and Diaz-Méndez, A., 2020. Pathogenesis and tissue tropism of natural field recombinants of infectious laryngotracheitis virus. Veterinary Microbiology, p.108635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108635
    • Thilakarathne, D.S., Hartley, C.A., Diaz-Méndez, A., Coppo, M.J. and Devlin, J.M., 2020. Development and application of a combined molecular and tissue culture-based approach to detect latent infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) in chickens. Journal of Virological Methods, 277, p.113797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.113797
    • Thilakarathne, D.S., Coppo, M.J., Hartley, C.A., Diaz-Méndez, A., Quinteros, J.A., Fakhri, O., Vaz, P.K. and Devlin, J.M., 2019. Attenuated infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccines differ in their capacity to establish latency in the trigeminal ganglia of specific pathogen free chickens following eye drop inoculation. PloS One, 14(3),p.e0213866. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213866
    • Fakhri, O., Devlin, J.M., Browning, G.F., Vaz, P.K., Thilakarathne, D., Lee, S.W. and Hartley, C.A., 2020. Genomic recombination between infectious laryngotracheitis vaccine strains occurs under a broad range of infection conditions in vitro and in ovo. Plos one, 15(3), p.e0229082. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229082
    • Korsa, M.G., Devlin, J.M., Hartley, C.A., Browning, G.F., Coppo, M.J., Quinteros, J.A., Loncoman, C.A., Onasanya, A.E., Thilakarathne, D. and Diaz-Méndez, A., 2018. Determination of the minimum protective dose of a glycoprotein-G-deficient infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccine delivered via eye-drop to week-old chickens. PloS One, 13(12),p.e0207611. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207611
    • Loncoman, C.A., Hartley, C.A., Coppo, M.J., Browning, G.F., Quinteros, J.A., Diaz-Méndez, A., Thilakarathne, D., Fakhri, O., Vaz, P.K. and Devlin, J.M., 2018. Replication-independent reduction in the number and diversity of recombinant progeny viruses in chickens vaccinated with an attenuated infectious laryngotracheitis vaccine. Vaccine, 36(38),pp.5709-5716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.08.012
    • Kalupahana, R.S., Rajapaksa, D.I.G., Fernando, P.S., Thilakarathne, D.S. and Abeynayake, P., 2017. Occurrence and characterization of nontyphoidal Salmonella in retail table eggs in Kandy district of Sri Lanka. Food Control, 72,pp.244-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.04.024
    • Gunawardana, S., Thilakarathne, D., Abegunawardana, I.S., Abeynayake, P., Robertson, C. and Stephen, C., 2014. Risk factors for bovine mastitis in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Tropical animal health and production, 46(7),pp.1105-1112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0602-9
    • WPKP Pathirage, DS Thilakarathne, TSR Fernando. Prevalence of Zoonotic Protozoan Gastrointestinal Parasites in Goats across Three Agro Climatic Zones of Sri Lanka. National Symposium on Agriculture and Life Sciences, NSALS’25, p (2025)
    • S Shiffana, RPVJ Rajapakse, SAM Kularathne and DS Thilakarathne. Molecular detection of Rickettsia in peripheral blood of patients suspected of spotted fever rickettsiosis who tested sero-negative in indirect immunofluorescence assay. 13 th Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Society of Microbiologists. p4 (2024)
    • KI Fazil, KSA Kottawatta, RPVJ Rajapakse, S Saheed and DS Thilakarathne. Preliminary investigation of microbial diversity and antibiotic susceptibility profiling of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from tick salivary glands infesting domestic animals in Kandy. 13 th Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Society of Microbiologists. p16 (2024)
    • HMHJ De Silva, DS Thilakarathne, and VPMK Abeywardana. Identification and morphological characterization of Armillifer moniliformis isolated from Indian rock python (Python molurus). 76th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Veterinary Association, p23 (2024)
    • TMT Chathumini, ABS Pabasara, RPVJ Rajapakse, DS Thilakarathne, KSA Kottawatte, TSR Fernando. Antimicrobial Resistance and Multi Drug Resistance of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in Beef Production Chain and its Associated Environment in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. National Symposium on Agriculture and Life Sciences, NSALS ’24, p (2024)
    • IPNambuge, RPVJ Rajapakse, DS Thilakarathne, TSR Fernando. Characterization of Gastrointestinal Helminths in Backyard Chickens in Selected Veterinary Ranges in Kandy District of Sri Lanka. 7 th International Research Conference of Uva Wellassa University, p269 (2023)
    • TMT Chathumini, ABS Pabasara, RPVJ Rajapakse, DS Thilakarathne, KSA Kottawatte, TSR Fernando. Prevalence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Antimicrobial Resistance in Beef Production Chain and its Associated Environment in Kandy District. 7th International Research Conference of Uva Wellassa University, p271 (2023)
    • DS Thilakarathne, AU Abeykoon, TAN Mahakapuge, SAM Kularathne, RPVJ Rajapakse Molecular detection of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia species from seropositive human blood samples. 10th Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Society of Microbiologists. Vol. 9, p28 (2021)
    • BYI Gamage, DS Thilakarathne, KGR Abayawansha, RS Kalupahana. Preliminary investigation on Salmonella and Escherichia coli contamination of chicken meat sold at small-scale farm shops in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. 10th Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Society of Microbiologists. Vol. 9, p02 (2021)
    • GADKK Gunathilaka, KSA Kottawatta, DS Thilakarathne, RS Kalupahana. Antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolated from commercial layer and backyard chicken farms from two Veterinary divisions in Kaluthara district. 19 th Annual Scientific Sessions of the World’s Poultry Science Association Sri Lanka branch (7th May 2021)
    • Omid Fakhri, Dulari Thilakarathne, Carlos Loncoman. Challenges of vaccination against infectious laryngotracheitis. APCAH 20 th Anniversary Symposium, Melbourne, Australia (29th November 2019)
    • Dulari Thilakarathne, Joanne Devlin, Andres Diaz, Carol Hartley, Jose Quinteros & Mauricio Coppo. Systemic lymphocyte response in specific pathogen-free chickens long after an intratracheal challenge with vaccine or field strain of infectious laryngotracheitis virus. The Victorian Infection and Immunity Network Symposium, Melbourne, Australia (18th October 2018)
    • Dulari Thilakarathne, Carol Hartley, Mauricio Coppo, Andres Diaz, Jose Quinteros, Omid Fakhri, Paola Vaz & Joanne Devlin. Latency characteristics of vaccine and field strains of infectious laryngotracheitis virus in SPF chickens. 43rd Annual International Herpes virus conference, Vancouver (21-25 July 2018)
    • Mauricio J. C. Coppo, Dulari S. Thilakarathne, Joanne M. Devlin and Carol A. Hartley. Genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex region in Australian specific pathogen free chickens. XVth Meeting of the Avian Immunology Research Group, Oxford, UK (5-7 September 2018)
    • Dulari Thilakarathne, Mauricio Coppo, Carol Hartley, Andres Diaz & Joanne Devlin. Optimization of molecular and culture based methods to detect ILTV latency in chickens. The University of Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary and Agriculture Sciences Postgraduate Student Symposium, Melbourne, Australia (29th & 30th of November 2018)
    • Dulari Thilakarathne, Mauricio Coppo, Carol Hartley, Andres Diaz & Joanne Devlin. Detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus in feather pulp of SPF chickens long after vaccination or infection. The Australian Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians Symposium, Melbourne, Australia (15th & 16th November 2018)
    • Dulari Thilakarathne, Carol Hartley, Mauricio Coppo, Andres Diaz, Paola Vaz, Omid Fakhri, Jose Quinteros, Mesula Korsa, Joanne Devlin. Investigating the capacity of different ILTV vaccines to induce ILTV latency. XXth Congress of World Veterinary Poultry Association, Edinburgh (4th-8th September 2017)
    • DS Thilakarathne, SN Gunawardana, KSA Kottawatta, P Abeynayake, K Picozzi & R Kalupahana. Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and Escherichia coli in retail chicken from small scale shops in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. 4th International One Health Congress & 6th Biennial Congress of the International Association for Ecology & Health Melbourne, Australia (4-7 December 2016)
    • WDLS Gunarathne, DMS Munasinghe, ARC Gunasena, DS Thilakarathne & P Abeynayake. Surveillance programme on sulfonamide residues in broiler chicken meat using thin layer chromatography. One health International conference, University of Peradeniya (5th & 6th Sept 2014)
    • WSN Gunawardana, DS Thilakarathne, P Abeynayake & IS Abeygunawardana. An Epidemiological Study on Bovine Mastitis in Central Province of Sri Lanka. SLCAARP International Research Symposium (11th & 12th Aug 2014)
    • KSA Kottawatta, JMKV Bandara, DS Thilakarathne, DIG Rajapaksha, P Abeynayake & RS Kalupahana. Occurrence of motile Salmonella in broiler flocks and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolates. Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, Sri Lanka Vol. 18, p187 (4th & 5th July 2014)
    • DS Thilakarathne, R Jinadasa, DIG Rajapaksha, KGRN Karunarathne, TPMSD Bandara, M Kothalawala, V Thevanesam & RS Kalupahana. Multidrug resistance of E. coli from chicken meat and human stool samples. 2nd Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Society for Microbiology. Vol.1, p17(2013)
    • DS Thilakarathne, WSN Gunawardana, DIG Rajapaksha, IS Abeygunawardana, P Abeynayake & RS Kalupahana. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Staphylococci isolated from bovine mastitic milk in the central province of Sri Lanka with special reference to methicillin resistance. Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. Vol.60, p20 (2013)
    • DIG Rajapaksha, DS Thilakarathne, P Abeynayaka, PS Fernando & RS Kalupahana. Prevalence of Salmonella in retail raw table eggs in Kandy municipal area. Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. Vol.60, p17 (2013)
    • DS Thilakarathne, KSA Kottawatta, RS Kalupahana & P Abeynayake. Investigation of Campylobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in Chicken Meat at Small Scale Retail Shops in Kandy city limits. Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. p13. (2012)
    • DS Thilakarathne, WSN Gunawardana, P Abeynayake & IS Abegunawardena. Investigation of most probable factors for development of bovine chronic mastitis in central province of Sri Lanka. Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. p32.(2012)
    • DS Thilakarathne, P Abeynayake, WSN Gunawardana, KSA Kottawatta & IS Abeygunawardana. Bacterial isolates and in-vitro biogram of milk collected from cows with chronic mastitis in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. Vol.16, p55.(2011)
    • WSN Gunawardana, P Abeynayake, DS Thilakarathne, C Stephen & IS Abeygunawardana. Effect of weather patterns on bovine clinical mastitis in NuwaraEliya district of Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. Vol.16, p51.(2011)
    • WSN Gunawardana, P Abeynayake, DS Thilakarathne, C Stephen & IS Abeygunawardana. Establishing the baseline total bacterial count for cows' milk in Sri Lanka and its application in determining bulk milk contamination. Proceeding of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. Vol.16, p50(2011)