Evaluation of single dose efficacy of difethialonc- a second-generation anticoagulant for the control of rodents inhabiting arid ecosystem

Abstract

A study was conducted during 2002-03 to evaluate single dose efficacy of difethialone-a second generation anticoagulant rodenticide in laboratory against Indian gerbil, Tatera indica, cutch rock rat Rattus cutchicus, Indian desert gerbil, Meriones hurrinae and northern palm squirrel, Funumbulus pennati. All the test rodents were exposed to pearl millet based difethialone (0.0025%) loose bait for one day under no-choice and choice condition. In toxicity trials under no-choice feeding, all the test rodents succumbed to the poison bait within 3-11 days after treatment. Minimum dose required to initiate mortality in T. indica, R. cutchicus, M. hurrianae and F. pennanti was 0.50, 0.94, 0.60, and 1.42 mg/kg, respectively. Mortality of test rodents was reduced to 80, 80,70 and 50% in T. indica, R. cutchicus, M. hurrinae, and F. pennanti, respectively when the poison bait was exposed under choice test. However, no significant difference was observed between consumption of plain and poison bait indicating that anticoagulant was fairly well acceptable and palatable to all the test test rodent species. Difethialone is effective single dose anticoagulant rodenticide for managing rodents of arid ecosystem.