IElNVllIR,(Q)lNMIElNT All IHIIEAlLTIHI AIESTRACTS ~ (Q)CC{t@[b®Ifn~1 f}; IEllIElLll (Q)(GIR,A~IHI1r focus: RODENT CONTROL DEPARTMENT DF HEAL TH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30333 - Prepared by Center for Disease Control Bureau of State Services Technical Information Services Editor: Richard F. Campolucci Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Trade names are used for identification only and do nut represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health. Education, and welfareor the Public Health Service. .. 00-3213 lENVlllRONMllENil AlL IHllEAlLillHl AlESillRACilS ~ lElllElLllO(GlRAIP IHlY focus: RODENT CONTROL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE/CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL BUREAU OF STATE SERVICES/ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION , ;"e Foreword Environmental Health Abstracts & Bibliography presents a survey of recently published literature in the field. Effort is made to keep the abstracts as current as possible and sufficiently informative to enable the reader to decide whether the original article would be of interest to him or her. For the benefit of the reader, where possible the address of the first author is included with each abstract. Future issues will be devoted to various other environmental health topics. In compiling these abstracts we utilize the National Library of Medicine's interactive retrieval service, MEDLARS II, along with BIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS, the BIBLI- OGRAPHY OF AGRICULTURE, CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, and SCISEARCH. Under these systems, both foreign and domestic biomedical periodicals are searched for material dealing with or related to environmental health. We also utilize the libraries of Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Center for Disease Control, and other federal agencies. Individuals desiring to be placed on the mailing key to receive Environmental Health Abstracts & Bibliography as published should write to the Center for Disease Control, Attention: Environmental Health Services Division, Bureau of State Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. Vernon N. Houk, M.D. Director Environmental Health Services Division iii • Contents Foreword iii A Three-Year History of the Use of the Genetically Sterile Male Norway Rat in the Control of Wild Rat Populations 1 Studies on the Effectiveness of Rodenticides. I. The Com- parative Rodenticidal Efficacy of Several Anticoagulants ...............•......... 1 A Review of Rodent Control Programs in New York State .1 Trapping: A Continuous Integral Part of a Rodent Control Program 2 A Regional Approach to Rodent Control in the San Francisco Bay Area 2 Rat Control with an Anticoagulant-Drat 2 Attempts to Influence the Feeding Behavior of Brown Rats Using Ultrasonic Noise Generators 2 A Comparative Field Trial, Conducted without Pretreatment Census Baiting, of the Rodenticides Zinc Phosphide, Thallium SUlphate and Gophacide against Rattus norvegicus .3 Responses of Rattus Species to Anticoagulant Poisoning 3 Warfarin Resistance: A Balanced Polymorphism in the Norway Rat 3 The Population Dynamics of Genetically Determined Resistance to Warfarin in Rattus norvegicus from Mid Wales .4 Laboratory Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a New Acute Rodenticide, Pyriminyl, on Albino Rats and Mice .4 Finding New Means to Attack the Rat 5 Augmentation of Warfarin Toxicity by Vitamin A Acetate to Roof Rats (Rattus rattus) 5 Ultrasonic Rat Control System 5 Report on DLP-787 Use in Cleveland 5 Toxicity of Calciferol, Warfarin and their Combinations to Rattus norvegicus (albino) and R. rattus 6 Field Trials of WBA 8119 (PP 581, Brodifacoum) against Warfarin-Resistant Infestations of Rattus norvegicus 6 Selected Bibliography 7 v • A Three-Year History of the Use of the Geneti- English summary: The comparative rodenti- cally Sterile Male Norway Rat in the Control of cidal effectiveness of five anticoagulants was ex- Wild Rat Populations amined. The acute toxicities obtained were low AI Stanley, L.G. Gumbreck, J.E. Aliison. in mice for both the coumarin derivatives and and H.F. Landreth i Departments of Physi- indandiones, whereas those shown in rats were ology and Biophysics and Anatomical Sci- remarkably high. In the subacute testing, the in- ences, University of Oklahoma Health Sci- dandiones were more potent than coumarins. ences Center and Oklahoma City Zoo, Okla- Also, coumatetralyl given to mice was least ef- homa City, OK 73190. TEXAS REPORTS fective of the five chemicals tested. However, ON BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 32(2): 596, when given to rats, it showed nearly the same 1974. effectiveness as did the indandiones. The coumarin derivatives failed to attain 50 percent From author's abstract: In 1967 the discovery mortality at lower dosages in the subacute test, of the genetically sterile male rat was first re- which may indicate a threshold concentration ported by the authors. Its use as a control mea- for these chemicals. When the rodenticides were sure for wild Norway rat populations was also given to rats and mice as baits, high mortalities proposed at that time. Cage and pen studies and were obtained but the differences in the activi- an open field trial on an egg farm near Okla- ties of the chemicals were not observed. homa City have now been completed, testing the efficacy of this method of rat control. Landreth A Review of Rodent Control Programs in New and associates, beginning February 1,1971, us- York State ing a series of metal outdoor pens 50 by 50 feet, J.E. Brooks-Bureau of Rodent Control, New found that the reduction of population potential York State Department of Health, Albany, was proportional to the ratio of sterile to normal NY 12237. VERTEBRATE PEST CONFER- males when the number of females placed in ENCE. PROCEEDINGS 6132-41 each pen was always equal to the sum of both sterile and normal males. These experiments Author's abstract: The history of rodent con- were repeated in indoor pens 25 by 25 feet with trol programs in New York State is reviewed, light and temperature controlled. The final re- beginning with state-funded efforts in August duction in population potential for the outdoor 1967. In 1969, Federal rodent control grant experiments was 73.5 percent, and 75.8 percent funds were used to establish four Model Cities for the indoor experiments. In these experi- programs. At its peak in 1970, programs were ments the results are highly significant. Several active in i8 counties, 8 cities and villages, and in observations can now be made as to the future 6 Model Cities areas. The program encompasses use of this method: I) Laboratory bred sterile all the major metropolitan areas of the state, males should be "feralized" before being re- serving some nine million persons. leased into a strange environment; 2) more high- As part of the state program, the Rodent Con- ly aggressive males are being bred to attack and trol Evaluation Laboratory was established to in- perhaps kill wild males on contact in the release vestigate chemosterilants as a means of rodent area; 3) warfarin resistance is being introduced control and to develop knowledge of pest rodent into the sterile male line. biology. Since then, the investigations program has turned to the problem of rodent resistance Studies on the Effectiveness of Rodenticides. I, to anticoagulant rodenticides both in New York The Comparative Rodenticidal Efficacy of Sev- and other states in the eastern United States. eral Anticoagulants (Japanese) Initial rat infestations, which ran 24.4 percent I Tanaka, Y. Ito, and H. Shigeto-Departrnent statewide in 1969, have heen decreased 84 per- of Environmental Biology, Japan Enviro- cent by late 1973. Similarly, in the same time mental Sanitation Center, Kawasaki, Japan. period, unapproved refuse storage deficiencies EISEl DOBUTSU 27(4). 347-53,1976. were decreased by 55.6 percent and exposed gar- 1 b bage conditions declined 44.7 percent. Rat bites ucation, and Welfare] is being conducted by the showed a 40 percent decrease during these same Vector Control Section, Canrornia State Depart- years. By all measures, then, the program has ment of Health in cooperation with local health been a success. agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Four Most programs have relied heavily upon anti- .community demonstration areas were selected in coagulant rodenticides in the chemical control urban poverty areas in the region. The objective of rodent populations. Zinc phosphide, red of each demonstration program is to reduce the squill, and norbormide are also used. Harborage rat infestation to a level that will not have signif- removal and environmental improvement are icant adverse health or economic effect. En- stressed through active cleanups and educational vironmental improvement and community par- efforts. During the 4-year period, 1969-1972, ticipation are emphasized. Concurrent studies some 177,000 tons of rat harborage were re- are being conducted to determine the status of moved from 66,000 premises in the state. anticoagulant resistance, the occurrence of ro- dent-borne diseases, and the significance of rat Trapping: A Continuous Integral Part of a Ro- infestations in sewer systems. The information dent Control Program gained from the project will provide improved H.R. Schuyler and R.F. Sun. Jr.-Plant Pro- methods and management criteria for rat control duction and Protection Division, Food and programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and Agriculture Organization of the United Na- other areas of the State with similar rodent tions, Rome, Italy VERTEBRATE PEST problems. CONFERENCE. PROCEEDINGS 6'150-60. Rat Control with an Anticoagulant-Drat Author's abstract: Trapping is usually con- K. Singh and T.P. Ojha-Harvest and Posthar- sidered a rodent control technique of minor im- vest Technology (fCAR), Scheme Agricultural portance. Due to the economic situation in the Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Dumaguete, Phillipines program from which this Technology, Kharagpur-721302, West Bengal, report is drawn, regular trapping was a biological India. INTERNATIONAL PEST CONTROL necessity. Four species of rodents and a shrew 18(3): 10, May-June 1976.