Comparative study of the palatability of various extruded rodenticide formulations
This article examines the palatability and the efficacy of extruded rodenticide formulations available on the European market. Studies conducted by two laboratories (in Hungary and France) using similar test protocols, provide results that are comparable and reliably reflect differences in the palatability of the various extruded blocks.
Background
Wild rattus norvegicus feeding on Varat® extruded block
The predecessor of Bábolna Bio (called Babolna Disinfection Station) was established fifty years ago as a division of a large state agricultural farm with the express aim of eliminating rats and mice at large-scale stock-breeding sites. Initially, rodent control was carried out using coumatetralyl, active ingredient based, loose rodenticide bait, imported from Bayer.
Rodent control grew in importance and with the city-wide Budapest deratization campaign (1971-72), requiring an increasing quantity of ready to use rodenticides, formulating of racumin loose rodenticide bait started in the village of Babolna (100 kms from Budapest).
Wild rattus norvegicus feeding on a Protect® extruded block
Following a successful Budapest campaign, maintenance works covering the whole 526 Km² area of the city began from January 1973. Targeting the remaining rat population living in the sewers and new immigrant rodents, loose bait was applied. As this formulation was affected by moisture, huge quantities of such bait had to be used.
In order to improve efficacy and to reduce the quantity of the bait to be used, a 200 gramme, disc-shaped wax bait fitted with a wire hanger was, for the first time in the world, developed and then manufactured under semioperational conditions in 1974. To provide the wax disc with appropriate palatability, a rodent breeding colony, including wild Norway rats trapped from the field and laboratory strains was established.
This is an extract of the full article published in International Pest Control – March/April 2014 issue.
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Authors: Dr. D. Bajomi, j. Schmidt, j. Szilágyi* a. Guicherd**
* Bábolna Bio ltd. 1107 Budapest, Szállás Utca 6, Hungary.
** Biolytics, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy L’Etoile, France
Category: Public health
