Trichothecene Genotype Profiling of Wheat Fusarium graminearum Species Complex in Paraguay.

Paraguay is a non-traditional wheat-producing country in one of the warmest regions in South America. Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a critical disease affecting this crop, caused by the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC). A variety of these species produce trichothecenes, including deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated forms (3-ADON and 15-ADON) or nivalenol (NIV). This study characterized the phylogenetic relationships, and chemotype diversity of 28 strains within FGSC collected from wheat fields across different country regions. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequence of elongation factor-1α gene (EF-1α) from 28 strains revealed the presence of four species in the FGSC: F. graminearum sensu stricto, F. asiaticum, F. meridionale and F. cortaderiae. Ten strains selected for further analysis revealed that all F. graminearum strains were 15-ADON chemotype, while the two strains of F. meridionale and one strain of F. asiaticum were NIV chemotype. Thus, the 15-ADON chemotype of F. graminearum sensu stricto was predominant within the Fusarium strains isolated in the country. This work is the first report of phylogenetic relationships and chemotype diversity among Fusarium strains which will help understand the population diversity of this pathogen in Paraguay.

Presence of Aflatoxin M1 in Commercial Milk in Paraguay.

ABSTRACT: The presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk is a public health concern because milk is a significant part of human diets worldwide. In economies where AFM1 monitoring is low or nonexistent, the possibility of AFM1 contamination might be increased. Our study was conducted to detect and quantify AFM1 in fluid milk and milk drinks of various brands, fat concentrations, packages, and heat treatments sold in the Metropolitan Area of Asunción, Paraguay. Eighty samples were collected from supermarkets in the Metropolitan Area of Asunción following a nonprobability sampling method. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for AFM1 (25 to 500 ppt) was used to quantify the toxin, and results were analyzed with nonparametric methods. All samples were positive values for AFM1 (above the detection limit of 25 ng/kg); 85% of the samples had 30 to 50 ng/kg, and 15% had >500 ng/kg. No significant difference in AFM1 concentration was found based on fat concentration, heat treatment, or type of packaging of these milk products; however, significant differences were found between brands.

Presencia de micotoxinas en preparados y colados comerciales para lactantes en el área metropolitana de Asunción, Paraguay

Introducción: Las micotoxicosis son enfermedades producidas por micotoxinas, metabolitos secundarios tóxicos producidos por hongos filamentosos. Los lactantes son especialmente susceptibles a este tipo de toxinas debido a la inmadurez anatómica y funcional de sus sistemas digestivo e inmune, lo que se refleja en la relación entre la cantidad de alimento ingerida y su peso. Objetivo: Determinar la presencia de micotoxinas en alimentos para lactantes comercializados en farmacias y supermercados del Área Metropolitana. Materiales y métodos: Se colectaron al azar 66 unidades de productos de seis marcas diferentes de preparados y colados comerciales importados, dulces y salados, de farmacias y supermercados del Área Metropolitana. Posteriormente, fueron analizados mediante el ensayo de inmunoafinidad ligado a enzimas (ELISA). Se realizó el análisis de varianza y la posterior comparación de medias de las concentraciones de micotoxinas mediante la prueba de Tukey (IC= 95%), con el estadístico InfoStat®. Resultados: Las micotoxinas prevalentes fueron aflatoxinas (AF) y Toxina T2, que se presentaron en 39% de las unidades muestrales analizadas, tanto en preparados como en colados. En tercer orden de importancia se encuentra ocratoxina A (OTA), detectada en 18% de las mismas. En cuarto lugar, deoxinivalenol (DON) se detectó en 4% los productos. Se presentaron diferencias significativas entre los preparados y los colados, siendo los colados los que en media presentaron niveles más altos de concentraciones de todas las micotoxinas estudiadas. Conclusiones: Se constataron niveles variables de AF, OTA, T2 y DON en los alimentos para lactantes comercializados en el Área Metropolitana. Los colados presentaron concentraciones más elevadas de micotoxinas en media en todos los productos analizados. Tanto AF como OTA superaron los límites máximos permitidos por las normas internacionales.

Introduction: Mycotoxicoses are diseases caused by mycotoxins, secondary toxic metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. Infants are especially susceptible to this type of toxins due to the anatomical and functional immaturity of their digestive and immune systems, which is related to the amount of food eaten and their weight. Objective: To determine the presence of mycotoxins in foods for infants sold in pharmacies and supermarkets in the Metropolitan Area. Materials and methods: 66 units of products from six different brands of imported commercial sweet and salty preparations and strained foods from pharmacies and supermarkets in the Metropolitan Area were randomly collected. Subsequently, they were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunoaffinity test (ELISA). The variance analysis and the subsequent comparison of means of mycotoxin concentrations were performed using the Tukey test (95% CI), with the InfoStat® statistic. Results: The prevalent mycotoxins were aflatoxins (AF) and T-2 Toxin, which were present in 39% of the sample units analyzed, both in preparations and in strains. In third order of importance we detected Ochratoxin A (OTA) in 18% of the units. Fourth, deoxinivalenol (DON) products were detected in 4%. There were significant differences between the preparations and the strains, with the strains having the highest concentration levels of all the mycotoxins studied. Conclusions: Variable levels of AF, OTA, T-2 and DON were found in infant foods marketed in the Metropolitan Area. The strains showed a higher average concentrations of mycotoxins in all the products analyzed. Both AF and OTA exceeded the maximum limits allowed by international standards.