title: Ingestion of dug well water from an area with high prevalence of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) and development of kidney and liver lesions in rats
abstract: Chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology
  (CKDu) is prevalent in the North Central Province (NCP) of
  Sri Lanka and ingestion of dug well water is considered a
  potential causative factor. Three CKDu prevalent villages
  were selected from the NCP based on the number of CKDu
  patients in the locality.
  
  
  
  Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups
  with 10 rats each. Group No 1, 2 and 3 were given water
  from selected dug wells. Control group was given tap water
  from Colombo. Water samples were analysed for fluoride,
  iron, arsenic, cadmium and calcium. Histopathological
  examination of liver and kidney tissues were performed.
  
  
  
  Significant reduction of glomerular filtration rate
  (GFR) was observed in two test groups compared to the
  control group (p0.05). In one group hepatocellular carcinoma
  with elevated serum liver enzymes was observed
  whilst hepatitis was observed in another test group (p<0.05).
  But mixed lesions were common in all affected rats.
  Significantly high renal tubular lesion index was observed
  in all three experimental groups (p<0.05) and high
  glomerular lesion index (p=0.017) was observed in one test
  group. Cadmium, arsenic and iron contents were below
  detectable levels in the NCP water sources and tap water
  from Colombo.
  
  
  
  Different wells may have different concentrations
  of environmental toxins and depending on the
  severity of the toxin contents GFR and grade and type of
  liver and kidney lesions may vary. High fluoride and other
  undetected toxins in shallow dug wells may be the causative
  factors for renal and liver lesions in these Wistar rats.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka. drmayuri.geetha@gmail.com
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Thammitiyagodage
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gunatillaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ekanayaka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rathnayake
authors.forename: N U
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Horadagoda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayathissa
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Gunaratne
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kumara
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abeynayake