Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) can be transmitted by blood transfusion. We determined the prevalence of T. gondii infection in healthy blood donors in Hermosillo city, Mexico, and the association of infection with T. gondii with the sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of blood donors. Four hundred and eight blood donors who attended two public blood banks in Hermosillo city were examined for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Of the 408 blood donors (mean age 31.77 ± 9.52; range 18–60 years old) studied, 55 (13.5%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, and 12 (21.8%) of them were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Multivariate analysis showed that seropositivity to T. gondii was associated with age (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.03–2.94; P = 0.03) and tobacco use (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.02–4.29; P = 0.04). Seropositivity to T. gondii was correlated with the number of pregnancies, deliveries, and cesarean sections. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in blood donors in Sonora is the highest reported in blood donors in northern Mexico so far. This is the first report of an association of T. gondii exposure and tobacco use. Further research to confirm this association is needed.

An organic extract from fresh shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was studied for antimutagenic and antiproliferative properties using Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98 and TA100 with metabolic activation (S9) and a cancer cell line (B-cell lymphoma), respectively. Shrimp extract was sequentially fractionated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and each fraction was tested for antimutagenic and antiproliferative activities. Crude organic extracts obtained from shrimp reduced the number of revertants caused by aflatoxina B1, showing a dose-response type of relationship. Sequential TLC fractionation of the active extracts produced several antimutagenic and/or antiproliferative fractions. These results suggested that the lipid fraction of the tested species contained compounds with chemoprotective properties that reduce the mutagenicity of AFB1 and proliferation of a cancer cell line.

Spirotetramat is an insecticide derived from tetramic acid, a systemic material, for the control of sucking insects in their juvenile, immature stages, including aphids, scale insects, and whitefly. It produces growth inhibition of younger insects, reduces the ability of insects to reproduce, resulting in mortality. It acts to inhibit the biosynthesis of lipids and represents a new alternative for the control of problematic insects such as Planococcus ficus and Aphis gossypii. "fter a foliar application of spirotetramat, it enters the plant and transforms to its metabolite enol, along with the metabolite ketohydroxy, which are the two main products of degradation.Studies on the % degradation DT in the soil under field conditions demonstrates the velocity of dissipation of spirotetramat and its main metabolites, "YI -enol and "YI -ketohydroxi, was from . to . days and from . to . days, respectively. Given these results, ground water contamination by spirotetramat is not very probable, and there is no evidence of accumulation in the soil or in the air. Spirotetramat has been used by itself for the control of aphids in grapevine, and combined with imidacloprid in walnut a reduction in the control efficiency of spirotetramat alone, possibly due to a change in the aphid population genetic makeup of the population, which resulted in a higher tolerance to the control dose was observed. However, when combined, it was possible to achieve up to % control days after application. For this reason, it is important to establish a permanent sampling program for insects, and to apply insecticides only when the insects reach the action threshold to prevent resistance building up, it is recommended to use materials with different modes of action, insecticide rotation, or alternative compounds.

Palabras clave: agroquímicos, exposición pasiva, dispersión de residuos, localidades rurales RESUMENEn diferentes proyectos realizados en Sonora, México, se comprobó la presencia de contaminación por agroquímicos en trabajadores y habitantes de localidades rurales aledañas a campos de cultivo. Para evaluar el peligro que representa para la salud de los habitantes la exposición pasiva de dichos compuestos, se requiere información confiable y actualizada sobre cultivos sembrados y plagas, así como cantidades, dosis y formas de aplicación de los plaguicidas utilizados, especialmente aquellos con potencial de riesgo para la salud. En este trabajo se propone un marco de referencia que permita identificar la información con que se cuenta a nivel local, como lo es el Distrito de Desarrollo Rural (DDR) 144-Hermosillo sobre cultivos y sus plagas, además de la intensidad y frecuencia de aplicación de plaguicidas por aspersión. En el periodo 2010 a 2014, nueve cultivos ocupaban el 80 % de la superficie sembrada en el DDR 144 Hermosillo y podían emplear 24 productos agroquímicos aplicados por aspersión. De éstos, los insecticidas organofosforados y herbicidas llegan a aplicarse de 16 a 211 t en 72 500 ha en una temporada, varios de estos plaguicidas son moderadamente persistentes en el ambiente y se consideran con efectos adversos a la salud por organizaciones nacionales e internacionales. Se concluye que en los predios agrícolas se asperjan suficientes cantidades de plaguicidas peligrosos, que pueden afectar la salud de los habitantes de localidades cercanas.Key words: agrochemicals, passive exposition, residue dispersion, rural communities Rev. Int. Contam. Ambie. 34 (1) 7-21, 2018 DOI: 10.20937/RICA.2018.34.01.01 M.I. Silveira-Gramont et al. 8ABSTRACT Different research projects in Sonora, Mexico, have proven contamination from pesticides in workers and locals living in communities near agricultural fields. To evaluate the health hazards from passive exposition of their inhabitants to such compounds, it is required reliable and updated information on the crops sown, their pests, as well as pesticide amounts, doses and forms of application, especially of agrochemicals that pose health risk potential. This work proposes a reference frame to identify the required information at a local level such as the Rural Development District (RDD) 144 Hermosillo, on crops, pests, besides the intensity and frequency of the application of pesticides by spraying. In the period from 2010 to 2014, nine crops occupied 72 500 ha (80 %) of the sown area in RDD Hermosillo, and could employ 24 most frequent agrochemical products applied by spray. Of those organophosphate insecticides and herbicides, 16 and 211 t were applied over 72 500 ha in one season. Several of these pesticides are moderately persistent in the environment and they are considered with adverse health effects by national and international organizations. It is concluded that in agricultural fields, enough quantities of hazardous pesticides are sprayed, which might possibly af...

This study was conducted to evaluate the presence of cyhialothrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, and deltamethrin in vegetables produced and consumed in Sonora, Mexico. A total of 345 samples were collected from cluster sampling of markets and fields. Approximately 9% of the samples tested positive for pyrethroids (residue range 0.004-0.573 mg kg(-1)). Based on the results, the potential toxicological risk of human exposure to the pyrethroid insecticides measured in vegetables appears to be minimal, with the estimated exposure being 1,000 times lower than admissible levels.

Fractions from an organic extract from fresh octopus (Paraoctopus limaculatus) were studied for biological activities such as antimutagenic and antiproliferative properties using Salmonella tester strains TA98 and TA100 with metabolic activation (S9) and a cancer cell line (B-cell lymphoma), respectively. A chloroform extract obtained from octopus tentacles was sequentially fractionated using thin layer chromatography (TLC), and each fraction was tested for antimutagenic and antiproliferative activities. Organic extract reduced the number of revertants caused by aflatoxin B1 showing a dose-response type of relationship. Sequential TLC fractionation of the active extracts produced several antimutagenic and/or antiproliferative fractions. Based on the results obtained, the isolated fractions obtained from octopus contain compounds with chemoprotective properties that reduce the mutagenicity of AFB1 and proliferation of cancer cell lines.

Food safety has acquired great attention by food importer and exporters. Food rejection or acceptance across international borders is based on the compliance with international food regulations. Due to the lack of recent data on pesticide residues in Mexican grains, this study focused on detecting and quantifying insecticide residues in stored wheat, corn, chickpeas, and beans, as well as to determine their mutagenic potential. Grains were sampled from primary storage sites in Sonora, Mexico. Malathion, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, cypermethrin, 4,4-DDE, 4,4-DDD and 4,4-DDT were analyzed in 135 samples. Grain samples were not mutagenic and most pesticide levels were within regulation limits.

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