Evaluation of brodifacoum against T. indica, M. hurrianae and R. rattus

Abstract

Brodifacoum was evaluated in the laboratory against the two gerbils, Tatera indica and Meriones hurrianae and the house rat, Rattus rattus. The acute oral LD50 for these rodents was found to be 0·10 mg/kg, 0·083 mg/kg and 0·77 mg/kg respectively. Feeding tests with 0·002% and 0·005% brodifacoum produced a 100% mortality after a 3-day feeding period in the gerbils and after a 4-day period in R. rattus. The anticoagulant is toxic at both the concentrations to all three species but is less palatable in comparison to plain baits. Results of this laboratory evaluation indicates that 0·002% brodifacoum-treated bait can be effectively used against T. indica, M. hurrianae and R. rattus. © 1981, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.