Live-traps vs. Rodenticides on Organic Farms: which method works best?

Rodent control is important from a food safety perspective, especially on organic farms. However, extermination using cats and poison have their disadvantages. Therefore we were searching for a better method of rodent control on organic farms. Live-traps might be an alternative: it fits better in the organic philosophy. But does it work? In this study we compared application of poison with use of live-traps by determining their efficacies on 20 organic pig farms. We found no difference between treatments, thus live-traps can form an alternative for poison

Efficacy of management and monitoring methods to prevent post-harvest losses caused by rodents

The presence of pest rodents around food production and storage sites is one of many underlying problems contributing to food contamination and loss, particularly influencing food and nutrition security in low-income countries. By reducing both pre- and post-harvest losses by rodents, millions of food-insecure people would benefit. As there are limited quantitative data on post-harvest rice losses due to rodents, our objectives were to assess stored rice losses in local households from eight rural communities and two rice milling factories in Bangladesh and to monitor the effect of different rodent control strategies to limit potential losses. Four treatments were applied in 2016 and 2017, (i) untreated control, (ii) use of domestic cats, (iii) use of rodenticides, (iv) use of snap-traps. In total, over a two-year period, 210 rodents were captured from inside people’s homes, with Rattus rattus trapped most often (n = 91), followed by Mus musculus (n = 75) and Bandicota bengalensis (n = 26). In the milling stations, 68 rodents were trapped, of which 21 were M. musculus, 19 R. rattus, 17 B. bengalensis, 8 Rattus exulans, and 3 Mus terricolor. In 2016, losses from standardised baskets of rice within households were between 13.6% and 16.7%. In 2017, the losses were lower, ranging from 0.6% to 2.2%. Daily rodent removal by trapping proved to be most effective to diminish stored produce loss. The effectiveness of domestic cats was limited

The Need and Potential of Biosensors to Detect Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls along the Milk, Eggs and Meat Food Chain

Dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) are hazardous toxic, ubiquitous and persistent chemical compounds, which can enter the food chain and accumulate up to higher trophic levels. Their determination requires sophisticated methods, expensive facilities and instruments, well-trained personnel and expensive chemical reagents. Ideally, real-time monitoring using rapid detection methods should be applied to detect possible contamination along the food chain in order to prevent human exposure. Sensor technology may be promising in this respect. This review gives the state of the art for detecting possible contamination with dioxins and DL-PCBs along the food chain of animal-source foods. The main detection methods applied (i.e., high resolution gas-chromatography combined with high resolution mass-spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) and the chemical activated luciferase gene expression method (CALUX bioassay)), each have their limitations. Biosensors for detecting dioxins and related compounds, although still under development, show potential to overcome these limitations. Immunosensors and biomimetic-based biosensors potentially offer increased selectivity and sensitivity for dioxin and DL-PCB detection, while whole cell-based biosensors present interpretable biological results. The main shortcoming of current biosensors, however, is their detection level: this may be insufficient as limits for dioxins and DL-PCBs for food and feedstuffs are in pg per gram level. In addition, these contaminants are normally present in fat, a difficult matrix for biosensor detection. Therefore, simple and efficient extraction and clean-up procedures are required which may enable biosensors to detect dioxins and DL-PCBs contamination along the food chain

Attitudes of clients of Dutch pest controllers towards animal welfare in the management of liminal rodents

Rodent control tends to involve methods that cause animal suffering, but little attention has been paid to the animal welfare implications of rodent control. The aim of the current study was to gain insight into the opinions and attitudes of clients of Dutch pest controllers, regarding liminal rodents, rodent control, and rodent welfare. A better understanding of their attitudes may contribute to more ethical rodent management programmes. An online survey among 248 clients of Dutch pest controllers was carried out. Respondents, especially those within the agricultural sector, have a relatively negative attitude towards rats and mice. Respondents in the agricultural subgroup do not consider the welfare of liminal rodents important. They also think that the welfare impact of commonly used control methods is limited, and they have low tolerance levels for the presence of rodents. Respondents from other sectors have a far more positive attitude towards rats and mice, consider their welfare to be of greater importance, have a greater estimation of the welfare impact of control methods and show greater tolerance levels towards rodents. The respondents from the latter subgroup have a similar attitude compared to Dutch pest controllers participating in a previous survey. The findings of the current study firstly provide useful information for the further development and practical implementation of preventive control methods. Secondly, they provide input for a more animal-friendly rodent control and for the development of an assessment framework to support ethical decision-making. Finally, they can be helpful for further research and the communication and co-operation between professional pest controllers and their clients

Evidence of Toxoplasma gondii in rodents from Bangladesh

Rodents contribute to the life cycle of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii as an intermediate host and key prey animal of cats, the definitive host. As there is limited scientific knowledge available about the incidence and prevalence of T. gondii in commensal rodents in many Asian countries, we tested rodents from a commercial rice mill and eight local villages in Bangladesh for the presence of T. gondii DNA using rodent brain material preserved in ethanol. Overall, 10 of 296 (3.4%) rodent samples tested positive for Toxoplasma DNA. Our results indicate that rodents present in food production and food storage facilities may carry T. gondii

Changing climate—changing pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii in North-Western Europe

In this review, we describe the effects of global climate change for one specific pathogen: the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is postulated that an increase of T. gondii prevalence in humans can occur in some regions of North-Western Europe as a result of changing environmental conditions. Such a change can be predicted by using Global Climate Change models. We have elaborated such a prediction for one scenario (SRES A1) by using one specific model (CCSR/NRIES) as an example. Next to environmental factors, also anthropogenic factors may contribute to increased prevalence of T. gondii in this region. In order to counter the potential severe consequences of a potential increase resulting from the combination of climatic and anthropogenic factors, there is an urgent need for the development of a human vaccine. Until a vaccine that offers complete protection is developed, the emphasis should be on treatment optimization and prevention

Biosecurity : Methods to reduce contact risks between vectors and livestock

In order to prevent direct contact between livestock and pest animals and thus decrease the risk of pathogen transmission, the implementation of preventive or sometimes even curative measures is required. The concept of biosecurity refers to implementation of such measures, but it is difficult to quantify the results as the situation between farms may vary substantially. In this chapter we investigate the position of biosecurity and the evolution of this concept, especially in relation to pest management. We stress the need for such a strategy not only because of the potential transmission of (zoonotic) pathogens to livestock, which can have significant consequences for livestock health and the food chain, but also because of structural damage to buildings and crops. As there are large differences in both farm conditions and between vectors, implementation of a pest management strategy can come with serious difficulties. Thus, we present a generic framework that helps to develop a more tailor-made approach for a pest management strategy on farms, which will hopefully contribute to more effective interventions.</p