Brodifacoum was fed to three rodent species, viz., M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti, using a no-choice feeding trial for 7 days at various concentrations--0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125%. The compound was found effective, palatable, developed no sign of poison bait-shyness but indicated a slight aversion of poison. The death of the animals was due to pulmonary distress and hemorrhage

Saxena, Y.

Sharma, R.K.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Proceedings of the Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference (1984) Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings collection March 1984 EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT SPECIES Y. Saxena Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India R.K. Sharma Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpc11  Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons Saxena, Y. and Sharma, R.K., "EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT SPECIES " (1984). Proceedings of the Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference (1984). 34. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpc11/34 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings collection at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference (1984) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT SPECIES Y. SAXENA and R.K. SHARMA, Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India ABSTRACT:  Brodifacoum was fed to three rodent species, viz., M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti, using a no-choice feeding trial for 7 days at various concentrations--0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125%. The compound was found effective, palatable, developed no sign of poison bait-shyness but indicated a slight aversion of poison.  The death of the animals was due to pulmonary distress and hemorrhage. INTRODUCTION After about 8 years’ use in Britain, resistance to the anticoagulant, warfarin, was discovered in Scotland (Boyle 1960) and has also been reported in a number of countries (Dubock and Kaukeinen 1978). The discovery of resistance led directly to the development of a new anticoagulant, brodifacoum   [3 - (-3 (4' - bromo-biphenyl-4 yl) -1, 2, 3, 4-tetra-hydro-1-naphthalenyl)- 4 - hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyron-2-one], which was shown to be very effective against the commensals (warfarin-resistant and nonresistant) and also tropical  and subtropical rodent pests of agriculture (Redfern et al. 1976, Mathur and Prakash 1980a, b, Saxena and Sharma 1981, 1982). The present study deals with the evaluation of brodifacoum against two field and one commensal rodent pest inhabiting the Indian desert. MATERIAL AND METHODS The animalsThe field rodents used were the Northern palm squirrel (Funambulus pennanti Wroughton) and Indian desert gerbil (Meriones hurrianae Jerdon).  All were captured in the field around Jaipur. House rats   (Rattus rattus rufescens Gray) were captured from houses and godowns. They were caged individually and were provided with wheat flour + 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses for 15 days to acclimatise to laboratory conditions.  Water was available ad libitum.  Both sexes (5+5) were used for the test. No-choice feeding test The poisoned bait (standardised bait from ICI, U.K.) of brodifacoum at different concentrations (.005%; .0025% and .00125%) was used.  It was provided continuously for 7 days along with a group of controls (i.e., provided wheat flour + 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses) of all three species.  Consump-tion was noted every day and was replaced by fresh poison bait.  After exposure the animals were maintained on normal diet of wheat flour + 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses for some days during which mortality was recorded. Dead animals were dissected to confirm the cause of death. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION On the basis of poison bait consumed in 7 days (Table 1), the consumption of poison bait was in general highest on the first day, reaching levels that could rarely be achieved during the subsequent days of feeding. Mostly, 5th, 6th or 7th day of intake was observed very low at all the concentrations used (i.e.,   .005%; .0025% and .00125%), indicating the aversion of poison with all three species. The data also reveal that all three species consumed mostly the same amount of plain bait per 100 gm body weight as compared to poisoned bait in the period of 7 days' feeding. This indicates that the compound is sufficiently palatable and develops no sign of poison bait-shyness. It appears that there is no relation in bait intake and time to death, since M. hurrianae and R. rattus succumbed Very early with low bait intake whereas F. pennanti with high intake took more time to death. At all the concentrations used, the efficacy of brodifacoum indicates 100 percent mortality in all M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti within the 7 days of feeding. These findings are in accordance with the findings of Mathur and Prakash (1980a, b) and Soni (1981), who worked on F. pennanti, M. hurrianae and R. rattus. Poisoning symptoms such as pulmonary distress, sluggishness and hemorrhage (bleeding from mouth, nose and anal region) were noticed after 2 days of feeding.  Therefore, the present study indicates that brodifacoum could be used for the effective control of wild and commensal rodents which developed bait-shyness after the treatment of acute poisons.     1984, Proceedings Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference                                                                                                                (D.O. Clark, Ed.). Printed at Univ. of California, Davis, Calif.        101 Table 1.  Efficacy of brodifacoum (Talon) bait against three rodent species.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We are indebted to Dr. A. C. Dubock, Manager, ICI Plant Protection Division, Fernhurst, Haslemere, Surrey, England, for providing the brodifacoum sample gratis.  One of the authors (RKS) is also grate-ful to CSIR, New Delhi, for providing the financial assistance in the form of a Junior Research Fellowship. LITERATURE CITED  BOYLE, M.  1960.  A case of apparent resistance of Rattus norvegicus to anticoagulant poisons.  Nature 4749:519 DUBOCK, A. C, and D. E. KAUKEINEN.  1978.  Brodifacoum (TalonTM rodenticide). A novel concept. Proceedings Eighth Vertebrate Pest Conference, Sacramento, California, pp. 127-137.          MATHUR, R. P., and I. PRAKASH.  1980a.  Laboratory evaluation of anticoagulant treated baits for a control of the northern palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti Wroughton.  J. Hyg. Cam. 85:421-426. MATHUR, R. P., and I. PRAKASH.  1980b.  Evaluation of brodifacoum (WBA 8119) against Tatera indica, Meriones hurrianae and Rattus r. rufescens.  J. Hyg. Camb. (in press).  REDFERN, R.,J. E. GILL, and M. R. HADLER.  1976.  Laboratory evaluation of WBA 8119 as a rodenticide for use against warfarin-resistant and non-resistant rats and mice.  J. Hyg. Cam. 77:419.          SAXENA, Y., and R. K. SHARMA.  1981.  Laboratory evaluation of brodifacoum (Talon) bait against Indian desert gerbil Meriones hurrianae Jerdon.  Pestology 5(4):22-23.  SAXENA, Y., and R. K. SHARMA.  1982.  Relative susceptibility of zinc phosphide and brodifacoum baits to Funambulus pennanti.  Bull. Grain Tech. 20(1) (in press).  SONI, B. K.  1981.  Efficacy of WBA 8119 (brodifacoum) to Indian rodents.  Rodent Newsletter (ICAR) 5(4):28-29.       102 

EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT SPECIES

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Proceedings of the Eleventh Vertebrate Pest 
Conference (1984) 
Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings 
collection 
March 1984 
EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE 
RODENT SPECIES 
Y. Saxena 
Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India 
R.K. Sharma 
Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004, India 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpc11 
 Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons 
Saxena, Y. and Sharma, R.K., "EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT 
SPECIES " (1984). Proceedings of the Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference (1984). 34. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpc11/34 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings collection at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Eleventh 
Vertebrate Pest Conference (1984) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - 
Lincoln. 
EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT 
SPECIES 
Y. SAXENA and R.K. SHARMA, Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 
302004, India 
ABSTRACT:  Brodifacoum was fed to three rodent species, viz., M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti, 
using a no-choice feeding trial for 7 days at various concentrations--0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125%. The 
compound was found effective, palatable, developed no sign of poison bait-shyness but indicated a 
slight aversion of poison.  The death of the animals was due to pulmonary distress and hemorrhage. 
INTRODUCTION 
After about 8 years’ use in Britain, resistance to the anticoagulant, warfarin, was discovered in 
Scotland (Boyle 1960) and has also been reported in a number of countries (Dubock and Kaukeinen 1978). 
The discovery of resistance led directly to the development of a new anticoagulant, brodifacoum   
[3 - (-3 (4' - bromo-biphenyl-4 yl) -1, 2, 3, 4-tetra-hydro-1-naphthalenyl)- 4 - hydroxy-2H-1-
benzopyron-2-one], which was shown to be very effective against the commensals (warfarin-resistant and 
nonresistant) and also tropical  and subtropical rodent pests of agriculture (Redfern et al. 1976, 
Mathur and Prakash 1980a, b, Saxena and Sharma 1981, 1982). The present study deals with the evaluation 
of brodifacoum against two field and one commensal rodent pest inhabiting the Indian desert. 
MATERIAL AND METHODS 
The animals
The field rodents used were the Northern palm squirrel (Funambulus pennanti Wroughton) and Indian 
desert gerbil (Meriones hurrianae Jerdon).  All were captured in the field around Jaipur. House rats   
(Rattus rattus rufescens Gray) were captured from houses and godowns. They were caged individually and 
were provided with wheat flour + 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses for 15 days to acclimatise to laboratory 
conditions.  Water was available ad libitum.  Both sexes (5+5) were used for the test. 
No-choice feeding test 
The poisoned bait (standardised bait from ICI, U.K.) of brodifacoum at different concentrations 
(.005%; .0025% and .00125%) was used.  It was provided continuously for 7 days along with a group of 
controls (i.e., provided wheat flour + 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses) of all three species.  Consump-
tion was noted every day and was replaced by fresh poison bait.  After exposure the animals were 
maintained on normal diet of wheat flour + 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses for some days during which 
mortality was recorded. Dead animals were dissected to confirm the cause of death. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
On the basis of poison bait consumed in 7 days (Table 1), the consumption of poison bait was in 
general highest on the first day, reaching levels that could rarely be achieved during the subsequent 
days of feeding. Mostly, 5th, 6th or 7th day of intake was observed very low at all the concentrations 
used (i.e.,   .005%; .0025% and .00125%), indicating the aversion of poison with all three species. 
The data also reveal that all three species consumed mostly the same amount of plain bait per 
100 gm body weight as compared to poisoned bait in the period of 7 days' feeding. This indicates that 
the compound is sufficiently palatable and develops no sign of poison bait-shyness. 
It appears that there is no relation in bait intake and time to death, since M. hurrianae and 
R. rattus succumbed Very early with low bait intake whereas F. pennanti with high intake took more time 
to death. 
At all the concentrations used, the efficacy of brodifacoum indicates 100 percent mortality in all 
M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti within the 7 days of feeding. These findings are in accordance 
with the findings of Mathur and Prakash (1980a, b) and Soni (1981), who worked on F. pennanti, M. 
hurrianae and R. rattus. 
Poisoning symptoms such as pulmonary distress, sluggishness and hemorrhage (bleeding from mouth, 
nose and anal region) were noticed after 2 days of feeding.  Therefore, the present study indicates 
that brodifacoum could be used for the effective control of wild and commensal rodents which developed 
bait-shyness after the treatment of acute poisons. 
 
 
 
 
1984, Proceedings Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference                                                                                                                
(D.O. Clark, Ed.). Printed at Univ. of California, Davis, Calif.        101 
Table 1.  Efficacy of brodifacoum (Talon) bait against three rodent species. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
We are indebted to Dr. A. C. Dubock, Manager, ICI Plant Protection Division, Fernhurst, Haslemere, 
Surrey, England, for providing the brodifacoum sample gratis.  One of the authors (RKS) is also grate-
ful to CSIR, New Delhi, for providing the financial assistance in the form of a Junior Research 
Fellowship. 
LITERATURE CITED 
 
BOYLE, M.  1960.  A case of apparent resistance of Rattus norvegicus to anticoagulant poisons.  Nature 
4749:519 
DUBOCK, A. C, and D. E. KAUKEINEN.  1978.  Brodifacoum (TalonTM rodenticide). A novel concept. 
Proceedings Eighth Vertebrate Pest Conference, Sacramento, California, pp. 127-137.          
MATHUR, R. P., and I. PRAKASH.  1980a.  Laboratory evaluation of anticoagulant treated baits for a 
control of the northern palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti Wroughton.  J. Hyg. Cam. 85:421-426. 
MATHUR, R. P., and I. PRAKASH.  1980b.  Evaluation of brodifacoum (WBA 8119) against Tatera indica, 
Meriones hurrianae and Rattus r. rufescens.  J. Hyg. Camb. (in press).  
REDFERN, R.,J. E. GILL, and M. R. HADLER.  1976.  Laboratory evaluation of WBA 8119 as a rodenticide 
for use against warfarin-resistant and non-resistant rats and mice.  J. Hyg. Cam. 77:419.          
SAXENA, Y., and R. K. SHARMA.  1981.  Laboratory evaluation of brodifacoum (Talon) bait against Indian 
desert gerbil Meriones hurrianae Jerdon.  Pestology 5(4):22-23.  
SAXENA, Y., and R. K. SHARMA.  1982.  Relative susceptibility of zinc phosphide and brodifacoum baits 
to Funambulus pennanti.  Bull. Grain Tech. 20(1) (in press).  
SONI, B. K.  1981.  Efficacy of WBA 8119 (brodifacoum) to Indian rodents.  Rodent Newsletter (ICAR) 
5(4):28-29. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
102 


Brodifacoum was fed to three rodent species, viz . M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti, using a no-choice feeding trial for 7 days at various concentrations− 0.005%, 0.0025%, and 0.00125%. The compound was found effective, palatable, developed no sign of poison bait-shyness but indicated a slight aversion of poison. The death of the animals was due to pulmonary distress and hemorrhage

Sharma, R. K.

eScholarship - University of California

UC Agriculture & Natural ResourcesProceedings of the Vertebrate Pest ConferenceTitleEfficacy of brodifacoum (Talon) bait against three rodent speciesPermalinkhttps://escholarship.org/uc/item/2k33188wJournalProceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 11(11)ISSN0507-6773AuthorsSaxena, Y.Sharma, R. K.Publication Date1984eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital LibraryUniversity of CaliforniaEl'FICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT SPECIES Y. SAXENAandR.K. SHARMA. Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, UnlversttyofRajasthan.Jaipur 302004, India · AB~TRACT: Srodifacoum.was f~d to three rodent sp~cies, viz . ,~- hurrianae, ~- rattus and f. pennanti, us1ng a no-choice feed1ng tr1al for 7 days at var1ous concentrations--0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125%. The compound was found effective, palatable, developed no sign of poison bait-shyness but indicated a slight aversion of poison. The death of the animals was due to pulmonary distress and hemorrhage. INTRODUCTION After about 8 years' use in Britain, resistance to the anticoagulant, warfarin, was discovered in Scotland (Boyle 1960) and has also been reported in a number of countries (Dubock and Kaukeinen 1978). The discovery of resistance led directly to the development of a new anticoagulant, brodifacoum [3 - (-3 (4' - bromo-biphenyl-4 yl) -1, 2,3, 4-tetra-hydro-l-naphthalenyl) - 4 - hydroxy-2H-l-benzopyron-2-one], which was shown to be very effective against the conmensals (warfarin-resistant and nonresistant) and also tropical and subtropical rodent pests of agriculture (Redfern et al. 1976, Mathur and Prakash 1980a, b, Saxena and Sharma 1981, 1982). The present study deals with the evaluation of brodifacoum against two field and one commensal rodent pest inhabitinq the Indian desert. MATERIAL AND METHODS The animals The field rodents used were the Northern palm squirrel (funambulus pennanti Wroughton) and Indian desert gerbil (Meriones hurrianae Jerdon). All were captured in the field around Jaipur. House rats (Rattus rattus rufescens Gray) were captured from houses and godowns. They were caged individually and were provided with wheat flour+ 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses for 15 days to acclimatise to laboratory conditions. Water was available ad libitum. Both sexes (5+5) were used for the test. No-choice feeding test The poisoned bait (standardised bait from ICI, U.K.) of brodifacoum at different concentrations {.005%; .0025% and .00125%) was used. It was provided continuously for 7 days along with a group of controls (i.e., provided wheat flour+ 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses) of all three species. Consump-tion was noted every day and was replaced by fresh poison bait . After exposure the animals were maintained on normal diet of wheat flour+ 1% vegetable oil + 1% molasses for some days during which mortality was recorded. Dead animals were dissected to confirm the cause of death. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION On the basis of poison bait consumed in 7 days (Table l), the consumption of poison bait was in general highest on the first day, reaching levels that could rarely be achieved during the subsequent days of feeding. Mostly, 5th, 6th or 7th day of intake was observed very low at all the concentrations used (i.e., .005%; .0025% and .00125%), indicating the aversion of poison with all three species. The data also reveal that all three species consumed mostly the same amount of plain bait per 100 gm body weight as compared to poisoned bait in the period of 7 days' feeding. This indicates that the compound is sufficiently palatable and develops no sign of poison bait-shyness. It appears that there is no relation in bait intake and time to death, since _t1. hurrianae and g. rattus succumbed very early with low bait intake whereas f_. pennanti with high intake took more time to death . At all the concentrations used, the efficacy of brodifacoum indicates 100 percent mortality in all M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti within the 7 days of feeding. These findings are in accordance with the findings of Mathur and Prakash (l980a, b) and Soni (1981), who worked on f. pennanti, !1_. hurrfanae and g. rattus. Poisoning symptoms such as pulmonary distress, sluggishness and hemorrhage (bleeding from mouth, nose and anal region} were noticed after 2 days of feeding. Therefore, the present study indicates that brodifacoum could be used for the effective control of wild and commensal rodents which developed bait-shyness after the treatment of acute poisons. 1984, Proceedings Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference (D.O. Clark. Ed.). Printed at Univ. of California. Davis, Calif. l 01 Table 1. Efficacy of brodifacoum (Talon) Species Mean body Cone. of weight brodifacoum (gm) in bait (%) Meriones 96.42 .005 hurri anae 94.28 .0025 98.52 .00125 90 . 30 Plain bait Rattus 116.42 .005 rattus 110.22 .0025 112. 64 .00125 116. 52 Plain bait Funambulus 198 . 46 .005 pennanti 186.54 . 0025 196.58 .00125 192.54 Plain bait ACKNOWLEDGEMENT bait against three rodent species. Poison bait Brodi facoum consumed in 7 ingested {mg/k9) days ( gm/100 gm mean + S.E. b.wt) Mean + S.E. 38.42+4.25 19.21~2.12 {16.00-13.00) 36.28+5.04 9.07+1 .26 { 8.00-11.00} 34.32+4.50 4.29+0.56 ( 4.00-6.00) 38.68+4.38 42.22+2.35 21.11+1.18 (18.00-29.00) 44.28+3.47 11. ll+0.86 (l0.00-14 .00) 40 .62+3.78 5.08+0.46 ( 4.00-7.00} 44.58+2 . 51 46 . 62+3.37 21 . 33+1.68 (17 .00-27.00) 48.78+2.68 12.20+0.67 (11.00-15.00) 52.58+1.60 6.59+0.20 5.00-10.00) 42.62+4.35 Average day to death 4.2 {3-6) 6.4 (5-8} 7.8 (4-10) 4.5 (3-6) 7.4 ( 6-10) 10.5 (8-13) 5.5 (4-8) 7.5 (6-9) 11.8 (9-14} We are indebted to Dr. A. C. Dubock, Manager, ICI Plant Protection Division, Fernhurst, Haslemere, Surrey, England, for providing the brodifacoum sample gratis. One of the authors (RKS) is also grate-ful to CSIR. New Delhi, for providing the financial assistance in the fonn of a Junior Research Fe 11 owshi p. LITERATURE CITED BOYLE, M. 1960. A case of apparent resistance of Rattus norvegicus to anticoagulant poisons. Nature 4749: 519. Tm DUBOCK, A. C .• and D. E. KAUKEINEN. 1978. Brodifacoum (Talon rodenticide). A novel concept. Proceedings Eighth Vertebrate Pest Conference, Sacramento, California. pp. 127-137. MATHUR, R. P., and I. PRAKASH. 1980a. Laboratory evaluation of anticoagulant treated baits for a control of the northern palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti Wroughton. J. Hyg. Cam. 85:421-426. MATHUR, R. P., and I. PRAKASH. l980b. Evaluation of brodifacoum (WBA 8119} against Tatera indica, Meri ones hurrianae and Rattus r. rufescens. J. Hyg. Camb. (in press). ----REDFERN, R., J. E. GILL, and~HADLER. 1976. Laboratory evaluation of WBA 8119 as a rodenticide for use against warfarin-resistant and non-resistant rats and mice. J. Hyg. Cam. 77:419. SAXENA, Y., and R. K. SHARMA. 1931. Laboratory evaluation of brodifacoum (Talon) bait against Indian desert gerbil Meriones hurrianae Jerdon. Pestology 5(4):22-23. SAXENA, Y. , and R. K. SHARMA . 1982. Relative susceptibility of zinc phosphide and brodifacoum baits to Funambulus pennanti. Bull. Grain Tech. 20(1} (in press). SONI, B. K. 1981. Efficacy of WBA 8119 (brodifacoum) to Indian rodents. Rodent Newsletter (ICAR) 5(4):28-29. 102 

Efficacy of brodifacoum (Talon) bait against three rodent species

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EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT SPECIES

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