Environmental influence on urban rodent bait consumption

Patergnani, Matteo; Gras, Lapo Mughini; Poglayen, Giovanni; Gelli, Aldo; Pasqualucci, Fernando; Farina, Marco; Stancampiano, Laura

doi:10.1007/s10340-010-0304-7

Cited by 19 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…Brown rats have proved a useful laboratory model for studies of behaviour, physiology and genetics (Gill et al 1989). However, as commensal pests, brown rats are often blamed for huge damage in agricultural and urban areas, as well as for the transmission of a long list of diseases (Huang et al 1995;MacDonald et al 1999;Patergnani et al 2010;Traweger et al 2006). Regarding improvements in rodent control, most studies have focused on brown rats in urban areas (Castillo et al 2003;Traweger et al 2006;Masi et al 2010) and farms (Gómez Villafañe and Bush 2007;Villa et al 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Seasonal variation in population characteristics and management implications for brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) within their native range in Harbin, China

et al. 2011

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The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) originated in north-eastern China, Siberia and Japan and subsequently spread worldwide. However, despite its importance to agriculture, public health and scientific and medical research, surprisingly few studies have focused on wild brown rat populations. There are four subspecies in China, but little is known about their original distributions. In the present study, we investigated the seasonal biological and ecological characteristics of brown rats in their native range in Harbin, north-eastern China. Trapping campaigns were conducted in June and November 2006 at a farm site and a rice site, and seasonal variation was analysed. The sex ratio was male biased at the farm site and female biased at the rice site in both seasons. Although juvenile, sub-adult and young-adult rats comprised over 80% of the population in both seasons, the age composition displayed seasonal differences, with higher proportions of juvenile rats in the summer and sub-adults in the winter. There were no significant morphological differences between different sexes or seasons, or between sites. Heavy, female and pregnant rats were captured first and heavier male rats maintained relatively higher reproductive activities than lighter ones, reflecting the link between social dominance and feeding priority. Rats had heavier reproductive organs in summer than in winter. The relative masses of the spleen and adrenal glands also showed seasonal and gender differences. This study demonstrates that brown rats in their native region have similar seasonal biological and ecological characteristics to American and European populations. This information on brown rat in north-east China will contribute to the development of management strategies for controlling this agricultural pest.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Seasonal variation in population characteristics and management implications for brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) within their native range in Harbin, China

et al. 2011

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“…14,15 In Europe, brown rats and house mice are among the most recognized urban rodents. Human infection can also occur by consuming contaminated water, or through skin and wounds when in contact with infected soil/water.…”

Section: Rodents As Disease Vectorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rodents as Potential Couriers for Bioterrorism Agents

Lõhmus

Janse

Goot

et al. 2013

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, an

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Many pathogens that can cause major public health, economic, and social damage are relatively easily accessible and could be used as biological weapons. Wildlife is a natural reservoir for many potential bioterrorism agents, and, as history has shown, eliminating a pathogen that has dispersed among wild fauna can be extremely challenging. Since a number of wild rodent species live close to humans, rodents constitute a vector for pathogens to circulate among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. This article reviews the possible consequences of a deliberate spread of rodentborne pathogens. It is relatively easy to infect wild rodents with certain pathogens or to release infected rodents, and the action would be difficult to trace. Rodents can also function as reservoirs for diseases that have been spread during a bioterrorism attack and cause recurring disease outbreaks. As rats and mice are common in both urban and rural settlements, deliberately released rodentborne infections have the capacity to spread very rapidly. The majority of pathogens that are listed as potential agents of bioterrorism by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases exploit rodents as vectors or reservoirs. In addition to zoonotic diseases, deliberately released rodentborne epizootics can have serious economic consequences for society, for example, in the area of international trade restrictions. The ability to rapidly detect introduced diseases and effectively communicate with the public in crisis situations enables a quick response and is essential for successful and cost-effective disease control.

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“…Traditionally, in the grain stores, food industry premises and urban sewers, toxic baits have been used for both rodent control and monitoring (e.g., see Patergnani et al, 2010;Mughini et al, 2012). The rate of bait consumption indicates population trends or the efficacy of the treatment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%