Rodent Biology & Control

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Examples of Rodents GerbilsMiceRatsSquirrelsWoodchucksPorcupinesBeaverand….

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Relate the biology of rodents to appropriate control measures. Objective هدف

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Chacteristics and Habits Purpose Surveillance and Control Techniques Overview مرور

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus Characteristics: Large, thick body Largest, most aggressive Blunt muzzle; small ears and eyes Tail is nearly naked; shorter than combined length of head and body Fur color brown to dark gray with scattered black hairs

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Roof Rat Rattus rattus Characteristics: Relatively slender body Muzzle pointed; ears and eyes large Tail longer than combined length of head and body; fairly hairy Fur color black to brownish-gray

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death House Mouse Mus musculus Characteristics: Body small Ears and eyes large Fur color grayish-brown with light below Can be distinguished from immature rats by head and feet proportion in relation to body (young rats have large heads and feet)

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Reproduction Rats Sexually mature at 3 months Gestation period 21 days; new estrus cycle begins 4-5 days following litter birth Produce 3-7 litters per year with 5-7 pups per litter Mice Sexually mature at 5 weeks Produce up to 8 litters per year at 5-6 pups each

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Rodent Behaviors They are nocturnal -- active almost exclusively at night. They stay close to food and water. If abundant water is not available (or in poor supply), they will not continuously inhabit an area.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Rodent Behaviors They travel in defined runways. They are “neophobic” -- don’t like new objects. They tend to eat in their harborages.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Rodent Behaviors Climbing – Rodents are among the most agile of all mammals and are capable climbers Burrowing – this activity is demonstrated by all commensal rodents with the Norway rat being most adept.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Rodent Senses & Abilities Sensory acuity - hearing, taste and smell, are much more acute than humans. Rodents have excellent memories and seldom repeat mistakes.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Senses and Abilities Swimming – all commensal rodents are good swimmers with the Norway rat being the most adept at this activity.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Medical Importance Native rodents may contribute to disease (ex. plague and Hantavirus) or economic loss (ex. crop damage). Imported species are far more destructive. We are most concerned with commensal rodents: those rodents that are closely associated with man and his environment (derived from the Latin word for "companion at meals.”)

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Medical Importance Rodents can attack people, especially when their populations are large or they are hungry Rodents historically have been a problem on battlefields and will attack wounded and disabled soldiers

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Diseases Associated with Rodents PlagueTularemiaLeptospirosisSalmonellosis Relapsing fever Leishmaniasis Korean hemorrhagic fever Ratbite fever Hantavirus Mosquito- and tick-borne encephalitides Chikungunya, Onyongyong fever, Lassa fever Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever Murine and scrub typhus Tickborne typhus, Q fever Toxoplasmosis Helminthic disease (trichinosis)

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Rodent Attacks Rats can injure, maim, and kill people!

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Economic Significance Destroy stored grains, and other foods They will eat almost anything Destroy other structures by gnawing Includes electrical wires, hydraulic hoses, wood, and wallboard Gnawing - rodents gnaw constantly to wear down teeth

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature DeathSurveillance Presence of urine and feces... Rat urine glows under black light Smudge marks or rubs Runs or tracks

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Surveillance Gnawing or other physical damage Burrows, nests, or food caches Presence of dead rodents in the open. Presence of live rodents in the day.

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature DeathSurveillance Odors and sounds Visual observation Pet excitement

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Prevention and Control SanitationIPM Exclusion and rodent proofing

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Rodenticides Acute (Single-Dose) Rodenticides : Capable of killing in a single dose, although more effective over multiple feedings Chronic (Multiple-Dose) Rodenticides: Requires multiple feeding over several days to cause mortality

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Other Control Methods Trapping Snap traps Live traps Sticky traps

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Summary Chacteristics and Habits Purpose Surveillance and Control Techniques

Prevent Disease, Disability and Premature Death Questions?سوالات