Control of rat damage in stored foodstuffs. 1. A comparative study of two coumarin derivatives.

Pingale, S. V. and Muthu, M. (1953) Control of rat damage in stored foodstuffs. 1. A comparative study of two coumarin derivatives. Bulletin of Central Food Technological Research Institute, 2. pp. 232-236.

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Abstract

THE annual losses of stored foodstuffs are estimated at several million tons in India due to rat damage. Methods usually recommended to control the damage are trapping and baiting of rats, both of which have their limitations. As regards trapping it is found that rats soon learn the dangers of the trap. Further, trapped rats instead of being destroyed are sometimes 'et loose some distance away, which only aggravates the problem. As regards baiting, in Which minimal doses of quick acting raticides are used, it is found that rats soon develop a "bait shyness" which also renders this method ineffective. The recently developed anticoagulants (coumarin derivatives) have introduced a shift in our present day ideas of raticides. The efficacy of the method is based on continuous administration of sub-lethal doses of the chemicals over a period of several days. This is claimed to prevent b a it shyne ss. Kruif (7) observed that rat colonies could be wiped out in 15 days by the administration of warfarin, a coumarin derivative. According to Hays and Gaines (6), warfarin could prove a valuable weapon for permanent rat control even where rat-proofing is not possible. Reiff and Wiesmann (8) found that minute doses of tomorin, another derivative of coumarin, were sufficient to kill a rat within 6-7 days by contact poisoning and that complete control of rats in a given locality was possible with it. The results of a study of the efficacy of these chemicals against the species of rats commonly encountered in this country, the extent of success possible under natural conditions and the possibilities of contamination of foodstuffs with these chemicals are given in this paper.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	rat damage, anticoagulants, foodstuffs
Subjects:	600 Technology > 03 Agriculture > 05 Insect/Pest Control
Divisions:	Food Protectants and Infestation Control
Depositing User:	Food Sci. & Technol. Information Services
Date Deposited:	16 Aug 2012 07:10
Last Modified:	16 Aug 2012 07:10
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/3616

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