Letter from Professor Posada to Juan MayrClick on thumbnails to expand. Right-click on expanded images to save.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION: NOT ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

Santa Fe de Bogotá, March 14^th, 2000

Doctor
JUAN MAYR MALDONADO
Minister of the Environment
L.C.

Dear Dr. Mayr

This is a follow-up to the various meetings that have taken place regarding the UNDCP and Ag/Bio Con proposals to use the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. erythroxyli as a tool for the eradication of illicit crops under the framework of "Plan Colombia". In our function as the technical assistance to the Environmental Ministry, we consider to be of vital importance that the following scientific considerations be taken into account, in that these proposals represent a huge risk not only for humans, but also for Colombia’s biodiversity.

In order to make this communication more understandable, please find a brief review of the most relevant technical aspects, and attached copies of documents and the bibliography that supports each of the points.

1. Fungi of the Fusarium genus attack humans whose defense levels are low, causing diseases such as changes in the skin, keratitis, onychomycosis, arthritis and mycetomas. The death rate caused by Fusarium infections in humans is 76%.

References:

Arrese et al., Am J Dermatol 18:196_198 (1996)
Anaissie et al., Cancer 57:2141_2145 (1986)
Elewski, et al., Clin Infect Dis 23:305_313, (1996)
Anaissie et al., Medicine 67:77_83, (1988)
Anaissie, Clin Infect Dis 14(suppl): 543_S53, (1992)
Andre et al., Int J Dermatol 26:481_488, (1987)
Boutati et al., Blood 90:999_1008, (1997)
Caux et al., Dermatology 186:232_235, (1993)
Hennequin et al., Journal of Medicine and Vetinary Mycology, 35,107_114 (1997)

We hope that this information is received with an aim to seeking the best solutions for the country, which is our objective.

Cordially,

EDUARDO POSADA F.
Director

C.C:

Dra. Claudia Martinez (Viceministra Medio Ambiente)
Dr. Crisitian Samper (Director Instituto Von Humbolt)
Dra. Luz Marina Mantilla (Directora Instituto Sinchi)
Dra. Alba Marina Cotes (Directora Programa Control Biológico _Corpoica)

2. Fusarium oxysporum secretes toxins into the soil and into the plants that it attacks which are highly toxic to animal and human life.

References:

Mesterházy, Cereal Res. Commun. 25 (3, Parts 1 and 2): 231_857. (1997)
Riley, et al. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 13:167_189 (1993)
Chu, Encyclopedia of Human Biology, Second Edition, vol.8, PP. 511_522. Academic Press. (1997)
Scott, Food Addit. Contam 14(4):333_339. (1997)
Rumbeiha, et al., Vet. Human Toxicol. 39(4):220_225. (1997)
Lu, et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 45(3):803_809. (1997)

3. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli can change from one special form to another, which means that it can convert into a pathogen of other plants beyong the species related to coca. Fusarium is responsible for the vascular rot in vegetables, perennial ornamentals, herbs, plantations (banana, tomato, coffee, cotton, corn, potato, dates etc) and trees.

References:

Ploetz et al., Am. Phytopathol. Soc. 325_328 (1988)
Vasquez, Leti Appl. Microbiol. 16: 210_213 (1993)
Kim, et al., Mol. Plant Pathol. Vol. 82, No. 3: 346_353 (1992)
Kim et al., Phytopathology. Vol. 83. No.1:91_97 (1993)
Bouhot, in: Fusarium Diseases, Biology and Taxonomy. Penn State Univ Press. 318_326 (1981).
Felsentein, Ann Rev. Genet. 521_565 (1988)

4. The effect of the introduction or increase of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli on any ecosystem is undeniable, even if it is not presently cannot be quantified. There is evidence that ants can disperse this micro-organism, due to the formulation, which implies that the ecosystem could be rapidly affected.

References:

Sylvia, et al., Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology, Ch. 4,8 y 10. Prentice Hall, N.J. (1998).
Strickberger,. Genetics, Third Edition, Ch. 33, Pag. 687_706 McMillan Publishing Company, N.Y. (1985)
Gracia_Garza, Phytopathology 88:185_189. (1997)

REFERENCES

1. Anaissie, E., Kantarjian, G., Jones, P., 1986, Fusarium: A newly recognized fungal pathogen in immunosuppressed patients. Cancer 57:2141_2145.
2. Anaissie, E., Kantarjian, H., Ro, J., 1988. The emerging role of Fusarium infections in patients with cancer. Medicine 67:77_83,.
3. Anaissie E., 1992, Opportunistic mycoses in the immunocompromised host: Experience at a cancer center and review of clinical infectious diseases. Clin Infect Dis 14 (suppl) :S43_S53.
4. Andre, J., Achten, G., 1987, Onychomycosis. lnt J Dermatol 26:481_488,.
5. Arrese, J.E., Pierard_Franchimont, C., Pierard, G.E., 1996, Fatal hyalohyphomycosis following Fusarium onychomycosis in an immunocompromised patient. Am J Dermatol 18:196_198.,
6. Barrios, N.J., Kirkpatrick, D.V., Murciano, A., 1990. Successful treatment of disseminated Fusarium infection in an immunocompromised child. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 12:319_324,
7 Blazar, B.R., Hurd, D.D., Snover, D.C., 1984, Invasive Fusarium infections in bone marrow transplant recipients. Am J Med 77:645_651.
8. Boutati, E.l., Anaissie, E., 1997, Fusarium: A significant emerging pathogen in patients with hematologic malignancy: Ten years' experience at a cancer center and implications for management. Blood 90:999_1008.
9. Caux, F., Aractingi, 8., Baurmann, H., 1993, Fusarium solani cutaneous infection in a neutropenic patient. Dermatology 186: 232_235.
10. Chelkowski, 1., Visconti, A., Solfrizzo, M., Bottalico, A., 1984. Formation Of mycotoxins by Fusarium species from cereals in Poland. Phytopath. Medit. 23: 43_46.
11. Elewski, B.E., Hay, R,J., 1996, Update on the management of onychomycosis: Highlights of the Third Annual International Summit on Cutaneous Antifungal Therapy. Clin Infect Dis 23:305_313,.
12. Gamis, A.S., Gudnason, T., Giebink, G.S., 1991, Disseminated infection with Fusarium in recipients of bone marrow transplants. Rev lnfect Dis 13:1077_1088,
13. Girmenia, C., Arcese, W., Micozzi, A., 1992, Onychomycosis as a possible origin of disseminated Fusarium solani infection in a patient with severe aplastic anemia. Clin Infect Dis 14:1167_1168,.
14. Gracia_Garza, J. A., Fravel, D. R., Bailey, B. A., and Hebbar, P. K., 1997 Dispersal of Formulations Of Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. erythroxyli and F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis by Ants., Phytopathology 88:185_189.
15. Hansson, C., Rosen, K., Braide, l.,1995. Fusarium infection with unusual skin lesions in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Dermatology 191:333_335,.
16. Helm, T.N., Longworth, D.L., Hall, G.S., 1990, Case report and review of resolved fusariosis. J Am Acad Dermatol 23:393_398,.
17. Hennequin, C., Benkerrou, M., Gaillard, J.L., 1994 Role Of granulocyte colony_stimulating factor in the management of infection with Fusarium oxysporum in a neutropenic child. Clin Infect Dis 18:490_491,.
18. Hennequin C., Lavarde V., Poirot J.L., Rabodonirina M., Datry A., Aractingi S.,Dupouy_Camet J., Caillot D., Grange F., Kures L., Morin O., Lebeau B., Bretagne S., Guiguen, C., Basset, D. Et. Grillot, R, 1997. Invasive Fusarium infections: a retrospective survey of 31 cases. Journal of Medicine and Vetinary Mycology, 35,107_114
19. Kim, D.H., Maityn, R.D., Magilí, C.W., 1992. Restriction fragment length polymorphism groups and physical map of mytochondrial DNA from Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum. Mol PIant Phytopath. Vol 82, No. 3: 346_353.
20. Merz, W.G., Karp, J.E., Hoagland, M., 1988 Diagnosis and successful treatment of fusariosis in the compromised host. J lnfect Dis 158:1046_1054,.
21. Mowbray, D.N., Paller, A.S., Nelson1 P.E.,1988 Disseminated Fusarium solani infection with cutaneous nodules in a bone marrow transplant patient Int J Dermatol 27:698_702,.
22. Murphy, M., Armstrong, D, 1995, Fusariosis in patients with neoplastic disease. lnfect Med 12:66_94,.
23. Ploetz, R.C., Correlí, J.C., 1988 Vegetative compatibility among races of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubensis. Am. Phytopathol. Soc. 325_328.
24. Rabodonirina, M., Piens, M.A., Monier, M.F., 1994 Fusarium infections in immunocompromised patients: Case reports and literature review. Eur J Clin Mlcrobiol lnfect Dis 13:152_161,.
25. Richardson SE, Bannatyne RM, Summerbell RC, 1988, Disseminated fusarial infection in the immunocompromised host. Rev lnfect Dis 10:1171_1181,.
26. RiIey, R.T., Norred, W.P., Bacon, c.W., 1993. Fungal toxins in food: Recent concerns Annu. Rev. Nutr. 13: 167_189.
27. Ritchie, E.B., Pinkerton, M. E.,1959, Fusarium oxysporum infection of the nail. Arch Dermatol 79:705_709,.
28. Spielberger, R.T., Falleroni MJ, Coene AJ, 1993, Concomitant amphotericin B therapy, granulocyte transfusions, and GM_CSF administration for disseminated infection with Fusarium in a granulocytopenic patient Clin Infect Dis 16:528_530,.
29. Strickberger,M.W. 1985, Genetics, Third Edition, Ch. 33, Pag. 687_706 Mc.Millan Publishing Company, N.Y.
30. Sylvia, D.M., Fuhrmann, J.J., Hartel, P.G., Zuberer, D.A., 1998, Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology, Ch. 4,8 y 10. Prentice Hall, N.J.

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Alta Vista: Key Words ("Fusarium Infections").

1. Fusarium Infections July 95

Fusarium infections (July 95) Members of the genus Fusarium are ubiquitous fungi uncommonly associated with infection. Human infection usually occurs...

URL: http://www.id.wustl.edu/docs/handouts/Fusarium.html

Last modified on: 3_Nov_1998 _4K bytes _ in English
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2. Food Research Institute Briefings: Fusarium Mycotoxins

FRI Briefings. Fusarium Mycotoxins. first published December 1997. prepared by M. Ellin Doyle, Ph.D. Food Research Institute, UW_Madison.Despite...

URL: http://www.wisc.edu/fri/Fusarium.htm mycoherbicide.info version

Last modífied on: 22_Jul_1999 _ 16K bytes _ in English
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Santa Fe de Bogotá, 14 de marzo del 2000

Doctor
JUAN MAYR MALDONADO
Ministro de Medio Ambiente
L.C.

Apreciado Dr. Mayr

En seguimiento a las diversas reuniones que se han llevado a cabo con respecto a las dos propuestas por parte de UNDCP y Ag/Bio Con de utilizar el hongo Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli como una herramienta para la erradicación de cultivos ilícitos dentro del marco del Plan Colombia, en nuestra calidad de asesor técnico del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, consideramos de vital importancia se tomen en consideración los siguientes aspectos científicos por los cuales estas propuestas significan un gran peligro tanto para los humanos como para la biodiversidad colombiana.

Con el fin de hacerle esta comunicación más entendible, a continuación encontrará un breve resumen de los aspectos técnicos más relevantes y anexo copia de los documentos y bibliografía que sustenta cada uno de los aspectos tratados.

1. Los hongos del género Fusarium atacan humanos cuyos niveles de defensa son bajos causando enfermedades tales como alteraciones de la piel queratitis, oncomicosis, artritis y micetomas. La tasa de mortalidad causada por Fusarium en los humanos infectados es del 76%.

Algunas Referencias:
Arrese et al., Am J Dermatol 18:196-198 (1996)
Anaissie et al., Cancer 57:2141-2145 (1986)
Elewski, et al., Clin lnfect Dis 23:305-313, (1996)
Anaissie et al., Medicine 67:77-83, (1988)
Anaissie, Clin lnfect Dis 14(suppl): 543-S53, (1992)
Andre et al., lnt J DermatoI 26:481-488, (1987)
Boutati et al., Blood 90:999-1008, (1997)
Caux et al., Dermatology 186:232-235, (1993)
Hennequin et al., Journal of Medicine and Veterinary Mycology, 35,107-114 (1997)

Esperamos que esta información sea recibida con el espíritu de búsqueda de las mejores soluciones para el país, que es nuestro objetivo.

Un cordial saludo,

EDUARDO POSADA F.

Director

C.C:       Dra. Claudia Martinez (Viceministra Medio Ambiente)
                  Dr. Crisitian Samper (Director Instituto Von Humbolt)
                  Dra. Luz Marina Mantilla (Directora Instituto Sinchi)
                  Dra. Alba Marina Cotes (Directora Programa Control Biológico -Corpoica)

2. Existen evidencias de que Fusarium oxysporum libera toxinas en suelos y en las plantas que ataca, las cuales son altamente tóxicas para animales y humanos.

Algunas Referencias:

Mesterházy, Cereal Res. Commun. 25 (3, Parts 1 and 2): 231-857. (1997)
Riley, et al.Annu. Rev. Nutr. 13:167-189 (1993)
Chu, Encyclopedia of Human Biology, Second Edition, vol.8, PP. 511-522. Academic Press. (1997)
Scott, Food Addit. Contam 14(4):333-339. (1997)
Rumbeiha, et al., Vet. Human Toxicol. 39(4):220-225. (1997)
Lu, et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 45(3):803-809. (1997)

3. El hongo Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli puede cambiar de una formae specialis a otra, lo cual implica que puede convertirse en patógeno de otras plantas, fuera de las especies relacionadas con la coca. Fusarium es el responsable del marchitamiento vascular de vegetales, ornamentales perenmes, herbaceas, plantaciones (banano, tomate, café, algodón, maíz, papa, dátiles etc) y árboles.

Algunas Referencias:

Ploetz et al., Am. Phytopathol. Soc. 325-328 (1988)
Vasquez, Leti Appl. Microbiol. 16: 210-213 (1993)
Kim, et al., Mol. Plant Pathol. Vol. 82, No. 3: 346-353 (1992)
Kim et al., Phytopathology. Vol. 83. No.1:91-97 (1993)
Bouhot, En: Fusarium Diseases, Biology and Taxonomy. Penn State Univ Press. 318-326 (1981).
Felsentein, Ann Rev. Genet. 521-565 (1988)

4. El efecto de la introducción y/o incremento de las poblaciones de Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli sobre cualquier ecosistema es innegable, aun cuando actualmente no es cuantificable. Existen evidencias de la dispersión de este microorganismo por hormigas, debido a la formulación, lo que implica que el ecosistema puede verse afectado en periodos de tiempo mas corto de lo imaginable.

Algunas Referencias:

Sylvia, et al., Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology, Cap. 4,8 y 10. Prentice Hall, N.J. (1998).
Strickberger,. Genetics, Third Edition, Cap. 33, Pag. 687-706 McMillan Publishing Company, N.Y. (1985)
Gracia-Garza, Phytopathology 88:185-189. (1997)

REFERENCIAS

1. Anaissie, E., Kantarjian, G., Jones, P., 1986, Fusarium: A newly recognized fungal pathogen in immunosuppressed patients. Cancer 57:2141-2145.
2. Anaissie, E., Kantarjian, H., Ro, J., 1988. The emerging role of Fusarium infections in patients with cancer. Medicine 67:77-83,.
3. Anaissie E., 1992, Opportunistic mycoses in the immunocompromised host: Experience at a cancer center and review of clinical infectious diseases. Clin lnfect Dis 14 (suppl) :S43-S53.
4. Andre, J., Achten, G., 1987, Onychomycosis. lnt J Dermatol 26:481-488,.
5. Arrese, J.E., Pierard-Franchimont, C., Pierard, G.E., 1996, Fatal hyalohyphomycosis following Fusarium onychomycosis in an immunocompromised patient. Am J Dermatol 18:196-198.,
6. Barrios, N.J., Kirkpatrick, D.V., Murciano, A., 1990. Successful treatment of disseminated Fusarium infection in an immunocompromised child. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 12:319-324,
7 Blazar, B.R., Hurd, D.D., Snover, D.C., 1984, Invasive Fusarium infections in bone marrow transplant recipients. Am J Med 77:645-651.
8. Boutati, E.l., Anaissie, E., 1997, Fusarium: A significant emerging pathogen in patients with hematologic malignancy: Ten years' experience at a cancer center and implications for management. Blood 90:999-1008.
9. Caux, F., Aractingi, 8., Baurmann, H., 1993, Fusarium solani cutaneous infection in a neutropenic patient. Dermatology 186: 232-235.
10. Chelkowski, 1., Visconti, A., Solfrizzo, M., Bottalico, A., 1984. Formation Of mycotoxins by Fusarium species from cereals in Poland. Phytopath. Medit. 23: 43-46.
11. Elewski, B.E., Hay, R,J., 1996, Update on the management of onychomycosis: Highlights of the Third Annual International Summit on Cutaneous Antifungal Therapy. Clin Infect Dis 23:305-313,.
12. Gamis, A.S., Gudnason, T., Giebink, G.S., 1991, Disseminated infection with Fusarium in recipients of bone marrow transplants. Rev lnfect Dis 13:1077-1088,
13. Girmenia, C., Arcese, W., Micozzi, A., 1992, Onychomycosis as a possible origin of disseminated Fusarium solani infection in a patient with severe aplastic anemia. Clin Infect Dis 14:1167-1168,.
14. Gracia-Garza, J. A., Fravel, D. R., Bailey, B. A., and Hebbar, P. K., 1997 Dispersal of Formulations Of Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. erythroxyli and F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis by Ants., Phytopathology 88:185-189.
15. Hansson, C., Rosen, K., Braide, l.,1995. Fusarium infection with unusual skin lesions in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Dermatology 191:333-335,.
16. Helm, T.N., Longworth, D.L., Hall, G.S., 1990, Case report and review of resolved fusariosis. J Am Acad Dermatol 23:393-398,.
17. Hennequin, C., Benkerrou, M., Gaillard, J.L., 1994 Role Of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the management of infection with Fusarium oxysporum in a neutropenic child. Clin lnfect Dis 18:490-491,.
18. Hennequin C., Lavarde V., Poirot J.L., Rabodonirina M., Datry A., Aractingi S.,Dupouy-Camet J., Caillot D., Grange F., Kures L., Morin O., Lebeau B., Bretagne S., Guiguen, C., Basset, D. Et. Grillot, R, 1997. Invasive Fusarium infections: a retrospective survey of 31 cases. Journal of Medicine and Veterinary Kim, D.H., Maityn, R.D., Magilí, C.W., 1992. Restriction fragment length polymorphism groups and physical map of mytochondrial DNA from Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum. Mol PIant Phytopath. Vol 82, No. 3: 346-353.
20. Merz, W.G., Karp, J.E., Hoagland, M., 1988 Diagnosis and successful treatment Of fusariosis in the compromised host. J lnfect Dis 158:1046-1054,.
21. Mowbray, D.N., Paller, A.S., Nelson₁P.E.,1988 Disseminated Fusarium solani infection with cutaneous nodules in a bone marrow transplant patient Int J Dermatol 27:698-702,.
22. Murphy, M., Armstrong, D,1995, Fusariosis in patients with neoplastic disease. lnfect Med 12:66-94,.
23. Ploetz, R.C., Correlí, J.C., 1988 Vegetative compatibility among races of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubensis. Am. Phytopathol. Soc. 325-328.
24. Rabodonirina, M., Piens, M.A., Monier, M.F., 1994 Fusarium infections in immunocompromised patients: Case reports and literature review. Eur J Clin Mlcrobiol lnfect Dis 13:152-161,.
25. Richardson SE, Bannatyne RM, Summerbell RC, 1988, Disseminated fusarial infection in the immunocompromised host. Rev lnfect Dis 10:1171-1181,.
26. RiIey, R.T., Norred, W.P., Bacon, c.W., 1993. Fungal toxins in food: Recent concerns Annu. Rev. Nutr. 13: 167-189.
27. Ritchie, E.B., Pinkerton, M. E.,1959, Fusarium oxysporum infection of the nail. Arch Dermatol 79:705-709,.
28. Spielberger, R.T., Falleroni MJ, Coene AJ, 1993, Concomitant amphotericin B therapy, granulocyte transfusions, and GM-CSF administration for disseminated infection with Fusarium in a granulocytopenic patient Clin lnfect Dis 16:528-530,.
29. Strickberger,M.W. 1985, Genetics, Third Edition, Cap. 33, Pag. 687-706 Mc. Millan Publishing Company, N.Y.
30. Sylvia, D.M., Fuhrmann, J.J., Hartel, P.G., Zuberer, D.A., 1998, Cap. 4,8 y 10. Prentice Hall, N.J.

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Alta Vista: Palabras claves ("Fusarium Infections").

1. Fusarium Infections July 95

Fusarium infections (July 95) Members Of the genus Fusarium are ubiquitous fungi
uncommonly associated with infection. Human infection usually occurs...
URL: http://www.id.wustl.edu/docs/handouts/fusarium.html
Last modified on: 3-Nov-1998 -4K bytes - in English
[Translate] [<lmagen>Related pages] [Company factsheet]

2. Food Research Institute Briefings: Fusarium Mycotoxins

FRI Briefings. Fusarium Mycotoxins. first published December 1997. prepared by M. Ellin
Doyle, Ph.D. Food Research Institute, UW-Madison.Despite...
URL: http://www.wisc.edu/fri/fusarium.htm mycoherbicide.info version
Last modífied on: 22-Jul-1999 - 16K bytes - in English
[Translate] [<Imagen>Related pages] [ Facts about: University Of Wis...]

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Cautionary letter about the risks of experimenting with Fusarium from Dr. Eduardo Posada, head of the Colombian Association for the Advancement of Science to Dr. Juan Mayr, Colombian Ministry of the Environment: (In English) HTML version RTF version

Carta del Professor Posada a Juan Mayr, Ministro del Medio Ambiente de Colombia
(en español) versión HTML versión RTF ORIGINAL

Cautionary letter about the risks of experimenting with Fusarium from Dr. Eduardo Posada, head of the Colombian Association for the Advancement of Science to Dr. Juan Mayr, Colombian Ministry of the Environment: (In English) HTML version RTF version

Carta del Professor Posada a Juan Mayr, Ministro del Medio Ambiente de Colombia (en español) versión HTML versión RTF ORIGINAL

Carta del Professor Posada a Juan Mayr, Ministro del Medio Ambiente de Colombia
(en español) versión HTML versión RTF ORIGINAL