Possible interaction between a rodenticide treatment and a pathogen in common vole (Microtus arvalis) during a population peak
A common vole (Microtus arvalis) population peak in Northern Spain in 2007 was treated with large scale application of chlorophacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide of the indandione family. Voles found dead and trapped alive were collected in treated and untreated areas. Residues of chlorophacinone...
| Published in: | Science of The Total Environment |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2009
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/283488 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.10.001 https://doi.org/10.13039/501100014180 |
| Summary: | A common vole (Microtus arvalis) population peak in Northern Spain in 2007 was treated with large scale application of chlorophacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide of the indandione family. Voles found dead and trapped alive were collected in treated and untreated areas. Residues of chlorophacinone were analyzed in liver of voles by HPLC–UV. Also, the presence of the pathogen Francisella tularensis was analyzed by PCR in samples of vole spleen. Chlorophacinone (82–3800 ng/g; wet weight liver) was only detected in voles found dead in treated areas (55.5%). The prevalence of F. tularensis in voles found dead in treated areas was also particularly high (66.7%). Moreover, chlorophacinone levels were lower in voles that were PCR-positive for F. tularensis (geometric mean [95% CI], 418 [143–1219] ng/g) than in those that were PCR-negative (1084 [581–2121] ng/g). Interactions between pathogens and rodenticides might be considered to reduce the doses used in baits or to avoid the use of the more toxic 2nd generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Partial financial support was provided by the Junta de Castilla y León. Peer reviewed |
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