Coexistence of thyroid disease and oral lichen planus in a Colombian population.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of unknown etiology. OLP has recently been linked to thyroid disease, mainly hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid disease in Colombian patients with OLP. A total of860 clinical records of patients attending the clinics of oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery at IPS CES Sabaneta, Colombia, between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed. Fourteen patients (1.6%) had a diagnosis of OLP. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with OLP was 35.7%, compared to 3.95% in the entire study population (OR 15.92, 95% CI: 5.63-50.09, P = 0.0001). Patients with concomitant hypothyroidism and OLP presented with less severe oral lesions compared to those without thyroid disease. This study supports the notion that patients with OLP should be screened for thyroid disease.

El liquen plano oral (LPO) es una enfermedad mucocutánea inflamatoria crónica de etiología desconocida. El LPO ha sido asociado recientemente con la enfermedad de la tiroides, especialmente con hipotiroidismo. El objetivo con este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de la enfermedad de la tiroides en pacientes colombianos con LPO. Un total de 860 historias clínicas de pacientes que asistieron entre 2010 y 2016 a las clínicas de medicina oral y de cirugía oral y maxilofacial de la IPS CES Sabaneta, Colombia, fueron revisadas. Catorce pacientes (1.6%) habían sido diagnosticados con LPO. La prevalencia de hipotiroidismo en pacientes con LPO fue 35.7%, comparada con 3.95% en toda la población de estudio (RM 15.92, 95% IC: 5.63-50.09, P = 0.0001). Pacientes con hipotiroidismo y LPO concomitante presentaron lesiones orales menos severas comparado con aquellos sin enfermedad de la tiroides. Este estudio respalda la idea de que se debe investigar la presencia de enfermedad de la tiroides en pacientes con LPO.

Coexistence of thyroid disease and oral lichen planus in a Colombian population / Coexistencia de enfermedad de la tiroides y liquen plano oral en una población colombiana

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of unknown etiology. OLP has recently been linked to thyroid disease, mainly hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid disease in Colombian patients with OLP. A total of860 clinical records of patients attending the clinics of oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery at IPS CES Sabaneta, Colombia, between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed. Fourteen patients (1.6%) had a diagnosis of OLP. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with OLP was 35.7%, compared to 3.95% in the entire study population (OR 15.92, 95% CI: 5.63-50.09, P = 0.0001). Patients with concomitant hypothyroidism and OLP presented with less severe oral lesions compared to those without thyroid disease. This study supports the notion that patients with OLP should be screened for thyroid disease.

El liquen plano oral (LPO) es una enfermedad mucocutánea inflamatoria crónica de etiología desconocida. El LPO ha sido asociado recientemente con la enfermedad de la tiroides, especialmente con hipotiroidismo. El objetivo con este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de la enfermedad de la tiroides en pacientes colombianos con LPO. Un total de 860 historias clínicas de pacientes que asistieron entre 2010 y 2016 a las clínicas de medicina oral y de cirugía oral y maxilofacial de la IPS CES Sabaneta, Colombia, fueron revisadas. Catorce pacientes (1.6%) habían sido diagnosticados con LPO. La prevalencia de hipotiroidismo en pacientes con LPO fue 35.7%, comparada con 3.95% en toda la población de estudio (RM 15.92, 95% IC: 5.63-50.09, P = 0.0001). Pacientes con hipotiroidismo y LPO concomitante presentaron lesiones orales menos severas comparado con aquellos sin enfermedad de la tiroides. Este estudio respalda la idea de que se debe investigar la presencia de enfermedad de la tiroides en pacientes con LPO.

Novel biopesticide based on Erinnyis ello betabaculovirus: characterization and preliminary field evaluation to control Erinnyis ello in rubber plantations.

BACKGROUND: The hornworn Erinnyis ello is the major pest of natural rubber crops in Colombia, mainly controlled using toxic chemical insecticides. The use of E. ello Betabaculovirus is an environmentally sustainable alternative for its control. The aim of the present work was to characterize a prototype biopesticide formulation and evaluate its efficacy under different conditions. RESULTS: Quality control evaluations of formulated biopesticide revealed that all the parameters evaluated were under the permissible level. The lethal concentrations LC50 and LC90 of the biopesticide were 4.3 × 103 and 5.5 × 104 occlusion bodies (OBs) mL-1 , respectively. Biopesticide efficacies against second and fourth instar larvae under greenhouse conditions were higher than 80%. Evaluation of two application rates in a clonal garden resulted in 84% and 88% efficacy, comparable to that obtained with the chemical. The biopesticide in a commercial plantation showed efficacies between 74% and 82%. Biopesticide post-application persistence was estimated at least in 1 week under field natural conditions. Results allowed selection of the lowest evaluated dose (1 × 1011 OBs ha-1 ) as the basis for further field evaluations. CONCLUSION: Formulated ErelGV showed high efficacy to control the hornworm in rubber crops and high potential to be included in integrated pest management programs, thus it could be an interesting alternative to replace agrochemicals. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Metarhizium rileyi biopesticide to control Spodoptera frugiperda: Stability and insecticidal activity under glasshouse conditions.

The insect-pathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi is highly sensitive to nutritional and environmental conditions which makes it difficult to produce as a stable biopesticide. In this study, a Colombian isolate of this fungus was produced in bulk, and conidia were formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC). The stability of formulated conidia was studied. Conidial viability was maintained at >85 % viability for 12 m under refrigeration and for >three months at 18 °C. The pH values were stable, while contaminant content was significantly reduced. The efficacy of the EC to control Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) was correlated with the storage time using different mathematical models, and conservative values of six and 12 months at 8 °C and 18 °C respectively, were established. Finally, the EC was evaluated in maize plants under glasshouse conditions. The LC50 and LC90 were estimated to be 1.17 × 104 and 4.03 × 106 conidia/mL respectively and a 57 % reduction in recent damage of plants was achieved. This study demonstrated the potential of M. rileyi formulated as EC to control S. frugiperda in maize. Therefore, it is necessary to continue developing this biopesticide, in order to deliver a new tool to be integrated in pest management programs.

PCR en tiempo real: una metodología útil para la detección y cuantificación de granulovirus / Real Time PCR: a useful methodology for detection and quantitation of granulovirus

El uso de baculovirus como agentes de control biológico de insectos plaga, se ha convertido en una estrategia efectiva que se ha implementado gradualmente en diferentes sistemas productivos a nivel mundial. Para el desarrollo de un bioplaguicida a base de baculovirus, es necesario contar con una metodología para determinar el título viral en el producto en proceso y terminado. Para tal fin, en este trabajo se diseñó y optimizó una técnica de cuantificación viral (Betabaculovirus) mediante PCR cuantitativo (q-PCR). Se utilizó una sonda TaqMan diseñada sobre el gen de granulina, altamente conservado. Para la técnica de q-PCR se determinó la especificidad, sensibilidad y reproducibilidad, encontrando que puede detectar y cuantificar aislamientos del género Betabaculovirus provenientes de cinco especies diferentes de insectos (granulovirus de Tecia solanivora, Phthorimaea operculella,Erinnyis ello, Tuta absoluta y Spodoptera frugiperda) incluso de diferente origen geográfico, pero no detecta aislamientos del género Alphabaculovirus (nucleopoliedrovirus de Spodoptera ornithogalli, Diatraea saccharalis o S. frugiperda). El límite mínimo de detección de la técnica fue de 6,4 x 10-4 ng de ADN, lo que equivale a 1,25 x 10(5) copias del gen. Así mismo, la variación intra e inter ensayos fue mínima, demostrando la reproducibilidad de la misma. La aplicabilidad de la técnica fue evaluada para la detección de granulovirus en muestras de larva, suelo, y para determinar la concentración viral en un bioplaguicida formulado como concentrado emulsionable. En conclusión, la técnica de q-PCR desarrollada fue reproducible, sensible y específica, con aplicabilidad en estudios de persistencia viral en campo, control de infecciones en crías de insectos y control de calidad de bioplaguicidas a base de betabaculovirus.

The use of baculovirus as a biocontrol agent is an effective strategy, which has been gradually implemented in different production systems worldwide. For the development of a biopesticide based on baculovirus, it is necessary to have a methodology to determine the viral concentration in the process and in the finished product. In this study, a technique for viral quantification by quantitative PCR (q-PCR) was designed and optimized; therefore we used a TaqMan probe designed on granulin gene which is highly conserved. The specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the technique were determined. The q-PCR was able to detect and quantify isolates from the genus Betabaculovirus from five different insects species (granulovirus from Tecia solanivora, Phthorimaea operculella, Erinnys ello, Tuta absoluta and Spodoptera frugiperda) even from different geographic origins, while other isolates of baculovirus as from the genus Alphabaculovirus (nucleopolyhedrovirus from Spodoptera ornithogalli, Diatraea saccharallis or S. frugiperda) were not detected. The minimum detection limit of the technique was 6.4 x 10-4 ng /µl of DNA, equivalent to 1.25 x 10³ gene copies. Additionally, intra- and inter-assays variation was minimal, demonstrating the reproducibility of technique. The applicability of the technique was evaluated for detecting granulovirus from samples of larva and soil, and to determine the virus concentration in the biopesticide formulated as emulsifiable concentrate. In conclusion, quantitative PCR was a technique reproducible, sensitive and specific to allow viral persistence studies in field, viral infection control in rearing and quality control of a biopesticide based on betabaculovirus.

VALORACIÓN Y ANÁLISIS DE INDICADORES DE SOSTENIBILIDAD EN SEIS UNIDADES DE PRODUCCIÓN AGROPECUARIA DE LA CUENCA MEDIA DEL RÍO CHINCHINÁ / ASSESSMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS ANALYSIS OF SIX AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION UNITS IN THE MIDDLE BASIN OF THE CHINCHINÁ RIVER

En la cuenca media del río Chinchiná se seleccionaron seis unidades de producción agropecuaria con aplicación de estrategias de producción más limpia, con el fin de conocer el nivel de sostenibilidad para cada una, adaptando la metodología de indicadores de sostenibilidad propuesta por ASPROINCA (Arango, 2003). Las variables medidas fueron: seguridad alimentaria, mercado, dependencia de insumos externos, mano de obra, conservación de agua, de suelo y de bosque, nivel de complejidad del sistema, nivel de reciclaje, nivel de integración de subsistemas, compromiso familiar, formas organizativas de trabajo y valores ambientales. El gráfico tipo redegrama generado por el ejercicio de valoración y análisis de dichos indicadores, le permite al propietario del predio reconocer las debilidades y fortalezas de su unidad productiva respecto a temas económicos, ecológicos y socioculturales, identificando puntos críticos para la priorización de actividades de sostenibilidad. Los resultados demuestran que cada unidad productiva tiene aspectos particulares respecto al uso de recursos. Los aspectos que afectan actualmente la sostenibilidad de los predios estudiados fueron la alta dependencia de insumos externos y la baja competitividad en los mercados. Los valores ambientales y la conservación de recursos naturales, agua, suelo y bosque, son factores positivos característicos de las unidades productivas que participaron en el proyecto.

Six agricultural production units applying cleaner production strategies were selected in the middle basin of the Chinchina river (Caldas, Colombia), in order to establish each unit sustainability level, adapting the sustainability indicators methodology proposed by ASPROINCA (Arango, 2003). The measured variables were: food security, markets, dependence on external supplies, labor, conservation of water, soil and forest, level of the system complexity, level of recycling, level of subsystems integration, family commitment, organizational forms of work and environmental values. The network type pictogram generated through the assessment and analysis exercise of such indicators allows the farmland owner to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of his production unit regarding economic, ecologic and socio-cultural issues, and to identify critical points for prioritization of sustainability activities. The obtained results show that each production unit has distinctive features about resources usage..The main aspects with mayor impact on sustainability of the studied farmlands were the high dependency of external supplies and the low competitiveness in the markets. The environmental values and the conservation of natural resources -water, soil and forest- are characteristic positive factors of the production units considered in this study.

The complete sequence of the first Spodoptera frugiperda Betabaculovirus genome: a natural multiple recombinant virus.

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest in maize crops in Colombia, and affects several regions in America. A granulovirus isolated from S. frugiperda (SfGV VG008) has potential as an enhancer of insecticidal activity of previously described nucleopolyhedrovirus from the same insect species (SfMNPV). The SfGV VG008 genome was sequenced and analyzed showing circular double stranded DNA of 140,913 bp encoding 146 putative ORFs that include 37 Baculoviridae core genes, 88 shared with betabaculoviruses, two shared only with betabaculoviruses from Noctuide insects, two shared with alphabaculoviruses, three copies of own genes (paralogs) and the other 14 corresponding to unique genes without representation in the other baculovirus species. Particularly, the genome encodes for important virulence factors such as 4 chitinases and 2 enhancins. The sequence analysis revealed the existence of eight homologous regions (hrs) and also suggests processes of gene acquisition by horizontal transfer including the SfGV VG008 ORFs 046/047 (paralogs), 059, 089 and 099. The bioinformatics evidence indicates that the genome donors of mentioned genes could be alpha- and/or betabaculovirus species. The previous reported ability of SfGV VG008 to naturally co-infect the same host with other virus show a possible mechanism to capture genes and thus improve its fitness.

Caracterización morfológica, biológica y genética de un aislamiento Colombiano de granulovirus de Erinnyis ello (L.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) / Characterization of a Colombian isolate of Erinnyis ello granulovirus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

El gusano cachón Erinnyis ello (L.) es una plaga polífaga que puede causar graves pérdidas en cultivos de caucho. El uso de granulovirus representa una alternativa interesante para el control biológico de este insecto. Tres aislamientos colombianos del granulovirus de E. ello (EeGV) recuperados en larvas de campo, fueron caracterizados morfológica y molecularmente. Los cuerpos de inclusión de los tres aislamientos presentaron forma ovoide con una única nucleocápside, con tamaño promedio de 302,9 ± 22 x 181,5 ± 16 nm. El análisis de los perfiles de restricción con diferentes endonucleasas no mostró diferencias entre los tres aislamientos, lo cual sugiere que son muestras de la misma cepa viral, denominada VG010, cuyo tamaño del genoma se estimó en 88,7 Kb. El análisis de las relaciones filogenéticas basado en las secuencias de lef-8, lef-9 y gran mostró con alta consistencia la estrecha relación entre VG010 y un aislamiento de EeGV (M34-4) previamente descrito, lo cual sugiere que son variantes genotípicas de la misma especie viral. La eficacia del aislamiento VG010 en condiciones de laboratorio sobre larvas de segundo y cuarto estadio fue de 100 % y 64 % respectivamente, mientras que la concentración letal media (CL50) fue 4,3 x 103 CI/mL. La productividad viral, osciló entre 2,1 x 109 y 3,8 x 109 CI/gramo de larva. Estos resultados representan la base para el desarrollo de un nuevo bioinsecticida para el control de la plaga en campo.

Erinnyis ello (L.) is a polyphagous lepidopteran pest that may cause serious annual losses in the rubber industry. The use of granulovirus represents an interesting alternative as a biological control agent for this insect. Three Colombian isolates of granulovirus for E. ello (EeGV) were obtained from field larvae and characterized at morphological, biological and molecular level. Occlusion bodies (OB) of the three isolates showed an oval morphology with a unique nucleocapsid, with a size of 302.9 ± 22 x 181.5 ± 16 nm. Analysis of DNA endonuclease restriction profiles did not showed differences among the three viral isolates, which means that they correspond to samples of the same viral strain, denominated VG010. The VG010 viral genome size was estimated to be approximately 88.7 kb. The analysis of the phylogenetic relationships based on selected gene sequences lef-8, lef-9 and gran showed a close relationship between VG010 and the previously described isolate EeGV (M34-4). These sequence similarities suggest that the three isolates are genotypic variants of the same viral species. The in vitro efficacy of the VG010 isolate against second and fourth instar larvae was 100 and 64%, respectively, while the mean lethal concentration (LC50) was 4,3 x 103 OB/mL. The viral productivity ranged between 2.1 x 109 and 3.8 x 109 OB/g of larvae. These results represent the basis to develop a new biopesticide control agent for the pest in the field.