Control of the Indian mole rat with alpha-chlorohydrin: laboratory studies on bait acceptance and antifertility effects

Toxic and antifertility effects of feeding poison baits of a toxicant-sterilant, alpha-chlorohydrin, were studied against the Indian mole rat Bandicota bengalensis . It was found that 0.5% alpha-chlorohydrin bait was the most palatable formulation which delivered the amount of active ingredient equal to or more than MLD (82 mg/kg) to B. bengalensis in a single day's feeding. The rats suffered maximum mortality with this bait concentration both in no-choice and bi-choice feeding trials. Male survivors of 0.5% and 1.0% alpha-chlorohydrin baits showed functional abnormalities of their testes as revealed by loss in testicular weight, decrease in the diameter of seminiferous tubules and thickness of seminiferous epithelium and abnormally low levels of spermatogenic cells. Effect of the poison on epididymis became apparent by the presence of epididymal lesions in caput epididymides and low levels of sperm concentration, live sperms and sperm motility in the cauda epididymal fluid. Our findings on the acceptance and toxiccum-antifertility effects of feeding alpha-chlorohydrin baits suggest field evaluation of this poison for the management of B. bengalensis would be appropriate.     

两种兔尾鼠的化学信息及其在群体中的作用

黄兔尾鼠(Lagurus lutens)及草原兔尾鼠(Lagurus lagurus)是新疆某些地区主要害鼠之一,它们的繁殖能力很强,数量高峰时,对草场危害极大。此外,它们还能传染某些地方性流行病,所以对这两种害鼠的防治是十分必要的。 近年来,我们在研究动物化学通讯的过程中,了解到外激素(信息素)在动物间传递信     

The Use of Metaldehyde Against Slugs

One part of metaldehyde in thirty parts of bran by volume is the minimum effective concentration for obtaining an economic kill of slugs under average weather conditions. For use against Milax gracilis Leydig. heaps of bait should not be normally more than 2 yd. apart and against Arion hortensis Fer. not more than 3 ft. apart. The mortality of slugs attracted to metaldehyde-bran baits is dependent on the drying property of the soil and atmosphere around the baits. D.D.T. flea-beetle dust and powdered pyrethrum flowers are sufficiently distasteful to slugs to prevent their consuming a lethal dose of the poison mixed with bran. The addition of 10%, by volume, of dried blood to metaldehyde-bran bait increases the catch of some slugs under certain conditions but does not increase the mortality. The addition of 10%, by volume, of dextrose increases the mortality produced by metaldehyde but does not increase the numbers attracted to the bait. A metaldehyde-bran bait compacted into 'biscuit' form with anhydrous calcium sulphate catches more slugs than an ordinary metaldehyde-bran bait, but almost completely counteracts the effect of the metaldehyde. A metal-dehyde-bran-casein glue bait in 'biscuit' form increases the catch and kill of Milax gracilis and Agriolimax reticulatus Müll., but not of Arion hortensis . Metaldehyde-bran-casein glue bait broadcast in 'broken biscuit' form is effective over a longer period, thus producing a greater kill of slugs, than a broadcast metaldehyde-bran bait.     

Induction of estrus in grouped female mice (Mus domesticus) by synthetic analogues of preputial gland constituents.

Two major volatile constituents of the male mouse preputial gland, E,E-alpha-farnesene and E-beta-farnesene, were examined for their role in inducing estrous cycles in grouped female mice. The results indicated that the mixture of the farnesenes was as effective as the homogenate of the intact preputial gland, while the extract of the castrate preputial tissue did not show a pronounced response.     

四种常用抗凝血灭鼠剂对两种家栖鼠实验室药效比较

比较了几种抗凝血灭鼠剂对家栖鼠的毒效。以常规浓度（溴敌隆０．００５％,杀鼠迷、杀鼠灵和敌鼠钠０．０２５％）的毒饵,对靶标鼠进行单笼饲养无选择和有选择以及围栏群养有选择摄食试验,用毒杀率和摄食系数评价毒效和适口性。结果表明：⑴实验鼠单笼饲养试验：溴敌隆和杀鼠迷对大白鼠适口性好,毒杀率高,敌鼠钠适口性差;对小白鼠的毒效和适口性,溴敌隆最好,敌鼠钠最差;⑵三省四地区的褐家鼠单笼饲养无选择试验,溴敌隆、杀     

Increasing Attractiveness of Baits with Venom Gland Extract for Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The effect of larval cuticle extract (larval pheromone) and venom gland extract (trail pheromone) on transport of formulated baits by Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel) was studied in the field and under laboratory conditions. In the laboratory, we observed the transport to the nest of baits impregnated with 10???L of venom gland extract (0.01 gland/bait) or 10???L of larval cuticle extract (0.05 larva/bait). The most transported impregnated bait was then tested in the field placing rubber septa impregnated with 100?mL of extract or with 100?mL of solvent with the baits at 0.2, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0?m away from the trail and from the nest entrance. Baits impregnated with venom gland extract were transported more often than baits formulated with larval cuticle extract. In field tests, the venom gland extract reduced the time required for ants to detect baits and increased the transport of baits displayed at 0.2?m from the foraging trail or nest entrance. The increase in the transport of impregnated baits and the lower time to be transported might help to reduce the loss of bait in the field and decrease the risk of active ingredient contacts with non-target species.     

Identification of glandular (preputial and clitoral) proteins in house rat (Rattus rattus) involved in pheromonal communication

Proteins (18-20 kDa) belonging to lipocalin family have been reported to act as carriers for ligands binding to pheromones in mouse urine, pig saliva, hamster vaginal fluid and human sweat, that are involved in pheromonal communication. As the preputial gland is a major pheromonal source, the present study was aimed to detect the specific protein bands (around 18-20 kDa) in the preputial and clitoral glands of the house rat, R. rattus. The amount of protein was higher in preputial gland of the male than that of female (clitoral) gland. A 20 kDa protein was noted in male and female glands; however, the intensity of the band was much higher in male than in female. In addition, 70, 60, 35 kDa bands, identified in male preputial gland, were absent in females. The presence of higher concentration of glandular proteins in the male preputial gland suggests that male rats may depend more on these glandular proteins for the maintenance of reproductive and dominance behaviours. The results further suggest that these glandular proteins (20 kDa) may act as a carrier for ligand binding.     

A Behaviorally-Explicit Approach for Delivering Vaccine Baits to Mesopredators to Control Epizootics in Fragmented Landscapes

Despite the widespread use of aerial baiting to manage epizootics among free-ranging populations, particularly in rabies management, bait acceptance and seroconversion rates often are lower than required to eliminate spread of disease. Our objectives in this study, therefore, were to evaluate the performance of stratified bait distribution models derived from resource selection functions (RSF) on uptake of placebo rabies baits by raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), as well as the probability of bait uptake as a function of proximity to bait distribution areas in fragmented agricultural ecosystems. Among 478 raccoons and 108 opossums evaluated for presence of Rhodamine B (RB) across 8 sites, only 26% of raccoons and 20% of opossums exhibited marking consistent with bait consumption 14–24 days post-baiting. The effective area treated, based on 90% kernel density estimators of marked individuals, ranged from 99–240 ha larger than bait distribution zones, with RB marked individuals captured up to 753m beyond the bait zone. Despite incorporation of RSF data into bait distribution models, no differences in uptake rates were observed between treatment and control sites. These data likely reflect the underlying constraints imposed by the loss and fragmentation of habitat on animal movement in heterogeneous landscapes, forcing individuals to optimize movements at coarse (i.e., patch-level) rather than fine spatial scales in highly fragmented environments. Our data also confirm that the probability of bait acceptance decreases with increasing distance from bait zone interiors, even within the zone itself. Thus, although bait acceptance was confirmed beyond bait zone boundaries, the proportion of vaccinated individuals may comprise a small minority of the population at increasing distances from baiting interiors. These data suggest focal baiting creates a buffered area of treated individuals around bait zones or bait stations, but repeated treatments may be needed to achieve sufficient uptake to eradicate disease.     

The rodent preputial gland

Researches published in the last 2 years have advanced direct evidence for regarding the rodent preputial gland as a scent organ, confirming a speculation made at least as long ago as 1725. The gland is the source of olfactory stimuli which mediate behavioural responses in social and sexual interactions between conspecifics. Although the gland has received little direct attention from investigators, a considerable amount of information on it is available. Most of this was gained ancilliary to other, and very diverse, research objectives so that the literature is very scattered. These references are collated to present a comprehensive review of knowledge of the biology of the rodent preputial gland. Theoretical concepts of population structure and regulation, involving density-dependent factors, require a sensory mechanism to activate the physiological effects attributed to social interactions. The preputial gland, as a source of olfactory cues, has all the biological characteristics required of such a sensory modulator.     

Do colours that deter birds affect cereal bait acceptance by possums (

Poisonous baits used for pest control in New Zealand commonly contain green dye and cinnamon oil to make them less attractive to birds. Research aimed at reducing the impact of poison based pest control on birds has shown that some birds are initially deterred from feeding on blue or, to a lesser extent, green coloured food and are attracted to yellow or red food. We determined whether colours that deter or attract birds affected the acceptance of non-toxic and toxic cereal baits by captive brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Individual possums were offered, daily, a choice between a standard green dyed non-toxic cereal bait and either a blue dyed(17 possums) or yellow dyed non-toxic bait (16 possums) for 10 days. Following this, for the first group of 17 possums, 1080 toxin was added to either the green bait (9 possums) or blue bait (8 possums) and possums were offered the green versus blue choice again. Two additional groups that had not previously been fed cereal baits were also given a choice between blue and green baits, one of which was toxic. All possums offered non-toxic bait ate less on the first day of presentation than on subsequent days. There was no difference in acceptance of either blue or yellow coloured non-toxic bait compared to the standard green non- toxic bait on any days. Bait colour appeared to be unimportant in cereal bait choice and did not deter possums from eating any of the baits. The addition of toxin to baits did not significantly alter bait choice in any groups, although some individuals which had no previous experience with baits ate more toxic than non-toxic bait. These data suggest that adding a stronger bird deterring colour (i.e., blue) to poisonous baits is unlikely to adversely affect the acceptance of baits by possums.     

Sex Differences in Olfactory Communication in Saguinus labiatus

We assessed behaviors involved with depositing and receiving scent in three captive heterosexual pairs of red-bellied tamarins (Saguinus labiatus). The frequencies of scent deposition and scent investigatory behaviors differed between the sexes. Females scent marked exclusively by the anogenital gland. Males deposited 95.8% of scent marks via the anogenital gland and 4.2% via the sternal gland. Females scent marked at a significantly higher rate than that of males (0.9 ± 0.1 versus 0.3 ± 0.1 per 20 min, respectively). Males investigated the scent of their opposite-sex partners whereas females investigated no male scent. Mean ± SEM latency for males to investigate female scent was 208.7 ± 65.0 sec. Around 9% of all scent marks were overmarked within 8 min and there was a nonsignificant trend for males to overmark the scent of their female partners than vice versa. We discuss the sex differences in olfactory communication in red-bellied tamarins in terms of sexual selection theory.     

A stingless bee uses labial gland secretions for scent trail communication (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigona recursa</Emphasis> Smith 1863)

The pheromones used by several species of stingless bees for scent trail communication are generally assumed to be produced by the mandibular glands. Here we present strong evidence that in Trigona recursa these pheromones originate from the labial glands, which are well developed in the heads of foragers. Analysis of the behavior involved in scent marking shows that a bee extends her proboscis and rubs it over the substrate. A single scent marking event lasts for 0.59±0.21 s while the bee runs a stretch of 1.04±0.37 cm on a leaf. According to choice experiments the bees are attracted by a feeder baited with labial gland extract (84.2±6% of the bees choose this feeder) but repelled from a feeder baited with mandibular gland extract (only 27.5±13.1% of the bees choose this feeder). They do not discriminate between two clean feeders (49.6±3% of the bees at a feeder). 87±5.1% of bees already feeding leave the feeder after the application of mandibular gland extract whereas only 6.2±4.9% and 2.6±4% do so when labial gland extract or pure solvent was applied.     

New technology for poison delivery

A long-life poison bait dispenser, consisting of a tree-mounted platform that dispenses a highly attractive liquid bait only when triggered by actions characteristic of a possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), was developed. The liquid bait formulation prevents deterioration due to the action of oxygen, moisture, bacteria and insects. The prototype is designed to dispense 100 lethal doses of poison, and is expected to last more than five years in the field without attention. The equipment is designed to avoid fouling by algae, debris or nesting insects. The selectivity for possums provides a low risk of exposing non-target mammals, birds and insects to poison. A reset delay reduces the likelihood of over- consumption of bait.     

拒避-诱杀组合技术对橘小实蝇产卵的影响

本文研究了以矿物油(mineral spray oil)乳剂为保护剂、"猎蝇"蛋白质毒饵为诱杀剂组成的拒避-诱杀组合技术对橘小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)产卵的控制作用。结果显示:橘小实蝇在采用拒避-诱杀组合技术保护的供试香蕉上平均产卵孔数为0.000±0.000个,果实完好率达到100%,而单独使用"猎蝇"蛋白质毒饵的平均产卵孔数为27.000±1.732个,果实完好率仅为5.55%,表明该组合技术对橘小实蝇产卵的控制效果显著。在100倍～300倍浓度范围内,矿物油浓度越高,拒避-诱杀组合对橘小实蝇产卵的控制效果越好;随着虫口密度的增加,毒饵使用量和施用面积也须相应增加,才能取得更好的防治效果。     

在自然状态下黄毛鼠包皮腺的引诱力及季节变化

黄毛鼠(Rattus rattoides Hodgson)包皮腺成对位于下腹部的皮下,腺体开口于尿道口外包皮内的两侧。腺体形态,雌雄各异。雌性呈豆瓣形;雄性呈瓜籽形。体长150毫米以上的成年鼠,其包皮腺的长和宽约18和9毫米。包皮腺是动物的一个外激素释放源,对于种群的调节有着重要的作用(Christiansen ＆ Dving 1975)。关于它的性引诱作用见诸于Bronson ＆ Caroom(1971)、刘炳谦、刘素霞(1979)等。但在自然情况下包皮腺分泌及其引诱作用尚少报道。本文通过野外试验,初步研究了黄毛鼠包皮腺的分泌及引诱力的变化规律,探讨利用此特性的可能性。无疑,这对进一步研究外激素对种群调节作用以及鼠害防治方面是有意义的。     

Palatability and toxicity of fipronil as a systemic insecticide in a bromadiolone rodenticide bait for rat and flea control

Vector control in plague-infested areas requires a simultaneous killing of rodents and their fleas. We investigated the efficacy of a combination of a systemic insecticide, fipronil, in a rodenticide bait formulation under laboratory conditions. Four different concentrations of fipronil (0.05%, 0.005%, 0.0005% with acetone as a solvent, and 0.05% with propylene glycol as a solvent) and two controls (solvents only) were combined with the rodenticide bait (crushed organically grown wheat with 0.005% bromadiolone). Each concentration was offered together with an untreated non-poisonous challenge bait to 10 singly caged Rattus rattus L., each with 100 rat fleas Xenopsylla cheopis Rothschild (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in the nest. Treated bait consumption was relatively low and an unsatisfactory rat mortality of around 50% only was obtained in all tests. The palatability of the bait, however, was not affected by the fipronil concentration. Even at the lowest fipronil concentration, average flea mortality was still above 95%, and doses of more than I mg fipronil per kg rat body weight gave a nearly complete kill of fleas. Fipronil can be highly effective as a systemic insecticide to for flea control, provided that a more attractive bait base for roof rats is used.     

Behavioural Responses to Scent Marks of Increasing Age in Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus

Klipspringers Oreotragus oreotragus are small antelopes which use scent marks to demarcate and defend their territory. The strength of behavioural response to the introduction of unfamiliar scent was measured in order to estimate the effective lifespan of scent secretion. The total number of scent marks deposited during the experiment was higher than control levels when fresh scent was introduced, but not when older scent was introduced. However, the proportion of marks deposited on introduced twigs remained higher than control levels until scent was aged at least 7d. The probability of licking twigs immediately before scent-marking was much higher than control levels when scent aged up to 3d was introduced, but not when scent was aged 7d or more. These results indicate that preorbital gland scent retains at least some degree of efficacy for up to 7d. The decreasing level of response to scent aged 0-7d is most likely to be due to decay of the scent signal. However, in contrast to the total number of marks deposited and the probability of licking before scent-marking, which both consistently decreased in response to older scent, the proportion of marks deposited on scent aged 3d was higher than over fresh scent. It is suggested that, in view of the role that scent-marking plays in territory defence, this difference in the timing of peak response between the three variables may represent an adaptive response to the perceived threat of encounter with an adversary, which is mediated by the age of the scent marks.     

四川短尾鼩包皮腺的挥发性化学成分分析

哺乳动物的包皮腺分泌物对个体间性引诱及繁殖行为的信息交流和种群调节有着重要的作用。本研究以四川短尾鼩（Anourosorex squamipes）为研究对象对劳亚食虫目动物包皮腺挥发性化学成分和化学通讯功能进行报道。采用顶空固相微萃取—气质联用（HS-SPME-GC/MS）的方法,分析四川短尾鼩雄体包皮腺中挥发性物质的化学组成。结果表明：（1）四川短尾鼩雄体包皮腺的挥发性化学成分主要含烷烃类、醇类、酮类、醛类、醚类、酯类、酸类、芳香烃类等45种化合物;（2）成年雄性四川短尾鼩的包皮腺中挥发性成分有39种,幼年雄性含有28种,说明四川短尾鼩成年雄体的包皮腺中挥发性化学成分多于幼年雄体;（3）成年雄体的包皮腺分泌物中含有4种特有的挥发性化学成分,幼年雄体中特有成分仅为1种,表明四川短尾鼩包皮腺中的挥发性化学成分存在年龄差异;（4）四川短尾鼩包皮腺分泌物中不同化学成分相对含量不同,同种化学成分在不同个体间的相对含量存在差异。四川短尾鼩雄性包皮腺挥发性化合物种类丰富,个体、年龄差异明显。推测挥发性化合物中丁酸（Butanoicacid）、乙酸乙酯（Ethyl acetate）、苯酚（Phenol）为四川短尾鼩的信息素。本研究为进一步验证该物种的信息素成分及其传递机制提供了基础数据。     

Aggression and preputial gland of male mice affected by the presence of other males

The level of aggressiveness and the weight of preputial gland and testis in male mice (Mus musculus) were influenced by housing condition, especially by the presence of cohabitant males. In this study, the relation between aggressiveness and the preputial gland and testis weight was studied for various housing conditions. The mouse individually housed in a cage that was linked to another cage containing another male separated by wire net was more aggressive than isolated or paired mice. The preputial gland weight also showed the same tendency, suggesting that the odor from other males promotes pituitary-gonadal activity in males, and that long-term cohabitance inhibits it.     

Der Einfluss verschiedener Fixierungsmittel auf das Strukturbild der Präputialdrüsen der Ratte

Summary The influence of various methods of fixation on the preputial gland of the rat was investigated. In addition to the lipids, the cells contain numerous granules which are dissolved by alcoholic and certain acid fixatives. In future investigation concerning either the histochemistry of the gland or the effect on the gland of various experimental conditions, its peculiar ability to secrete two different substances must be considered. In any event the preputial gland of the rat is more than a simple sebaceous gland.