MANAGUA, May 30 (Reuters) - Nicaragua has seized tens of thousands of tubes of Chinese toothpaste tainted with a lethal chemical, the government said on Wednesday, following mass raids on suppliers by other Central American nations.

Contaminated toothpaste has been pulled from stores and seized by customs in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Panama since last week after tests showed high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used as an engine coolant.

Health Minister Maritza Cuan said Nicaragua had seized over 40,000 tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste brands "Mr Cool," "Genial" and "Dentamint" at border posts in recent days.

"We are still searching all over the place," Cuan said in a news conference.

The United States said last week it was checking all toothpaste shipments from China as a precautionary measure.

No adverse effects of the toothpaste have been reported.

Last year cough medicine contaminated with diethylene glycol killed at least 100 people in Panama.

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