ABSTRACT Introduction: Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a toxic metabolite derived from aflatoxin B. Its ingestion in infants has been related to growth retardation, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, reduced immunization efficiency, and cirrhosis. In Paraguay, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, however, different brands of infant formulas targeted at this age range are marketed. Objective: To detect and quantify the presence of AFM1 in infant formulas marketed in the Metropolitan Area. Materials and Methods: Fluid (n = 18) and powder (n = 91) formulas for infants aged 0 to 12 months were purchased from pharmacies and supermarkets in the Metropolitan Area of Asunción and were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunoaffinity assay (ELISA). Results: 9.75% (0 to 6 months) and 2% (6 to 12 months) of the powdered milk formulas and 100% of the fluid formulas were positive for AFM1. The median content of AFM1 in powder formulas was 1820 ng/kg and 510 ng/kg in brands A and B, while in liquid formulas it was 31.8 ng/kg and 33.6 ng/kg for the two brands analyzed respectively (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: AFM1 was detected in all the liquid formulas analyzed, and in 2 and 9.7% of the powder formulas of brands A and B, respectively. The levels of AFM1 were higher in the powder formulas.

RESUMEN Introducción: La aflatoxina M1 (AFM1) es un metabolito tóxico derivado de la aflatoxina B. Su ingestión en lactantes se ha relacionado con retraso en el crecimiento, aumento de susceptibilidad a enfermedades infecciosas, reducción de la eficiencia en la inmunización y cirrosis. En Paraguay se recomienda lactancia exclusiva hasta los 6 meses, sin embargo se comercializan diferentes marcas de fórmulas infantiles dirigidas a lactantes menores de 6 meses. Objetivo: Detectar y cuantificar la presencia de AFM1 en fórmulas para lactantes comercializadas en el Área Metropolitana. Materiales y Métodos: Se adquirieron fórmulas fluidas (n=18) y en polvo (n=91) para lactantes de 0 a 12 meses de farmacias y supermercados del Área Metropolitana de Asunción y fueron analizados mediante el ensayo de inmunoafinidad ligado a enzimas (ELISA). Resultados: 9,75% (0 a 6 meses) y 2% (6 a 12 meses) de las fórmulas lácteas en polvo y 100% de las fórmulas fluidas resultaron positivas para AFM1. La mediana de contenido de AFM1 en formulas en polvo fue de 1820 ng/kg y 510 ng/kg en las marcas A y B. En las fórmulas líquidas fue de 31,8 ng/kg y 33,6 ng/kg para las dos marcas analizadas respectivamente, p=0,0001. Conclusiones: Se detectó AFM1 en todas las fórmulas líquidas analizadas, y en el 2 y 9,7% de las fórmulas en polvo de las marcas Ay B respectivamente Los niveles de AFM1 fueron mayores en las fórmulas en polvo.

A produção de frutos e sintomas de murcha-bacteriana foram quantificados nos genótipos de berinjela CNPH006, CNPH171, CNPH658, CNPH778, CNPH783 e CNPH785 cultivados em solo naturalmente infestado comRalstonia solanacearum, raça 1, biovar 3 em Brasília-DF. Com exceção do genótipo CNPH778, todos os genótipos apresentaram pelo menos uma planta com murcha, sintoma típico da doença.Entretanto, para diferenciar níveis de resistência/tolerância entre os genótipos, foram considerados, além da murcha, os sintomas: seca e morte de plantas (CNPH006, CNPH171, CNPH658 e CNPH783), amarelecimento de folhas (CNPH785) e menor crescimento de plantas (todos os genótipos). A ocorrência de fluxo bacteriano foi constatada em todas as plantas cultivadas nos canteiros infestados, inclusive naquelas que não apresentaram sintomas de murcha. Plantas cultivadas simultaneamente em canteiros não infestados, com as mesmas dimensões e características, permitiram obtenção de dados de produção em áreas infestadas e não infestadas. Os genótipos foram agrupados quanto à sua capacidade de manter a produção de frutos na área infestada.Quando comparados à média obtida na área livre do patógeno, CNPH785 foi o mais tolerante, não apresentando perda na produção, seguido dos genótipos CNPH783, CNPH778 e CNPH171, com perdas médias de 19,3; 11,4 e 10,1%, respectivamente. Os genótipos CNPH658 e CNPH006 foram os mais suscetíveis, com perdas médias de 99,53 e 99,32%, respectivamente.

Fruit yield and bacterial wilt symptoms of eggplant genotypes CNPH006, CNPH171, CNPH658, CNPH778, CNPH783, and CNPH785 were quantified in soil naturally infested with Ralstonia solanacearum(race 1, biovar 3) in Brasília, Brazil.Exceptfor CNPH778, all genotypes developed at least one typical wiltedplant. Besides wilt,other symptoms considered for assessing levels of tolerance/resistance among genotypes wereplant death (CNPH006, CNPH171, CNPH658 and CNPH783), leaf chlorosis(CNPH785) and plant dwarfing (all genotypes). The occurrence of bacterial ooze on cut stems was observed in all plants grown in infested beds, including those that did not exhibit wilt symptoms. Plants grown simultaneouslyin noninfested beds of the same dimensions and soil characteristics allowed the comparison ofyield losses due to the pathogen. The genotypes were grouped according to their ability to maintain fruit production in the infested area. CNPH785 was the most tolerant genotype, with no significant loss due to the disease,followed by CNPH783, CNPH778 and CNPH171, with mean losses of 19.3%, 11.4%, and 10.1%, respectively. The genotypes CNPH658 and CNPH006 were the most susceptible, with average losses of 99.53 and 99.32%, respectively.

Background Mosquitoes are important vectors of several diseases, including malaria and dengue, and control measures are mostly performed using chemical insecticides. Unfortunately, mosquito resistance to commonly applied insecticides is widespread. Therefore, a prospection for new molecules with insecticidal activity based on Amazon biodiversity using the anuransLeptodactylus knudseni andPhyllomedusa vaillantii was performed against the mosquito speciesAnopheles darlingi and Aedes aegypti.Methods The granular secretion from anuran skin was obtained by manual stimulation, and lethal concentrations (LCs) for larvicidal and adulticidal tests were calculated using concentrations from 1-100 ppm. The skin secretions from the anuran species tested caused significant mortality within the first 24 hours on adults and larvae, but differed within the mosquito species.Results The skin secretions from the anuran species tested caused significant mortality within the first 24 hours on adults and larvae, but differed within the mosquito species. The calculated LC50 of L. knudseni skin secretions against An. darlingiwas 0.15 and 0.2 ppm for adults and larvae, respectively, but much higher for Ae. aegypti, i.e., 19 and 38 ppm, respectively. Interestingly, the calculated LCs50 of P. vaillantii against both mosquito species in adults were similar, 1.8 and 2.1 ppm, respectively, but the LC50 forAn. darlingi larvae was much lower (0.4 ppm) than forAe aegypti (2.1 ppm).Conclusions The present experiments indicate that skin secretions from L. knudseni and P. vaillantii contain bioactive molecules with potent insecticide activity. The isolation and characterization of skin secretions components will provide new insights for potential insecticidal molecules.

O potencial dos isolados DFs185 (Pseudomonas synxatha), DFs223 (Pseudomonas fluorescens), DFs306 (não identificado), DFs416, DFs418 e DFs419 (Bacillus sp.), DFs422 (Bacillus subtilis) e DFs471 (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) foi avaliado para o controle da mancha-parda (Bipolaris oryzae) e da escaldadura (Gerlachia oryzae) do arroz. Para tanto, sementes da cultivar El Passo L144 foram imersas em suspensão (10(7) a 10(8) UFC/mL) de cada um dos isolados, agitadas por 30 min a 10ºC e semeadas em vasos, sendo utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Foram utilizadas duas testemunhas: uma tratada com solução salina e outra com solução salina mais fungicida (Carboxin+Thiran). Realizaram-se dois ensaios para cada um dos patógenos, inoculados nas plantas por aspersão, e avaliados quanto à severidade aos 7, 14 e 21 dias após a inoculação calculando a área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença. Para mancha-parda, no primeiro ensaio, o melhor desempenho foi proporcionado pelos isolados DFs185, DFs223 e DFs306 que apresentaram 80, 86 e 70% de redução da severidade. No segundo ensaio, o isolado DFs306 foi o mais eficiente deles, com redução na severidade da doença chegando a 74% em relação à testemunha, sendo que os isolados DFs223, DFs185 e DFs306 proporcionaram incremento na massa de grãos em 74, 70 e 59%, respectivamente. Para o controle da escaldadura, no primeiro ensaio, os isolados que apresentaram melhores resultados foram DFs416 e DFs418 com 65 e 59% de controle, respectivamente. No segundo ensaio, se destacaram os isolados DFs416 e DFs185 reduzindo a severidade da doença em 64 e 60%, respectivamente sem incrementar a produção.

The potential of isolates DFs185 (Pseudomonas synxatha), DFs223 (Pseudomonas fluorescens), DFs306 (unidentified), DFs416, DFs418 and DFs419 (Bacillus sp.), DFs422 (Bacillus subtilis) and DFs471 (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) was evaluated for the control of rice brown spot (Bipolaris oryzae) and leaf scald (Gerlachia oryzae). Rice seeds cv. El Passo L144 were immersed in a suspension (10(7) a 10(8) CFU/mL) of each of the isolates, agitated for 30 min at 10ºC and sowed in pots, in complete randomized design with four replications. Two controls were used: one with seeds treated with saline solution, and the other with saline solution plus fungicide (Carboxin+Thiran). Two assays for each of the pathogens were carried out. Plants were inoculated by spraying and their disease severity was evaluated at 7, 14 and 21 days after inoculation for the calculation of the area under disease progress curve. The best result for brown spot biocontrol in the first assay was provided by isolates DFs185, DFs223 and DFs306, which presented 80, 86 and 70% of control. In the second assay, isolate DFs306 was the most efficient, with reduction in disease severity reaching 74% in relation to control. The isolates DFs223, DFs185 and DFs306 provided a rise in grain yield of 74, 70 and 59%, respectively. For the control of leaf scald, in the first assay, the isolates that presented the best results were DFs416 and DFs418, which showed 65 and 59% of control, respectively. In the second experiment, isolates DFs416 and DFs185 reduced the disease severity, respectively, by 64 and 60%, without increasing the yield.