A sustainable breakthrough in rodent pest control: laboratory validation of novel neem-andrographolide bait with dual toxic and contraceptive effects
Abstract Background Rattus rattus causes damage to physical infrastructure and spreads diseases under commensal conditions. They have a very high reproductive potential and quickly rebuild their population after management through chemical and mechanical methods. Therefore, a neem seed and andrograp...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41936-024-00421-6 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Background Rattus rattus causes damage to physical infrastructure and spreads diseases under commensal conditions. They have a very high reproductive potential and quickly rebuild their population after management through chemical and mechanical methods. Therefore, a neem seed and andrographolide-based bait (NSA bait) with both toxic and sterilising effects was developed for their long-term management. To test the efficacy of the NSA bait, female black rats (R. rattus) from groups I–V (n = 12 rats per group) were acclimatised. Rats in Group I were fed a control diet, while rats in Groups II–V were fed the formulated NSA bait for 15 days under two-choice conditions. Rats in Group II were necropsied immediately after the treatment period, while rats in Groups III and IV were necropsied after 15 and 30 days of treatment to assess the potential and sustainability of the antifertility effect of the NSA bait in female black rats. Group V rats were used to study mating behaviour and breeding potential immediately after and 30 days after treatment. Results Results revealed good palatability of NSA bait and 54.16% mortality in rats. Remaining live rats revealed significant reduction in the body weight, weight of reproductive organs, duration of estrous cycle, number of both normal and atretic follicles, and level of sex hormones in all the treated groups. Mating behaviour and reproductive success were also affected in all the treated groups. Results thus revealed irreversible antifertility effect of treated bait even after 15 and 30 days of treatment. Conclusions The plant-based approach for the management of Rattus rattus is to counterbalance the limitations associated with chemical rodenticide. The novel NSA bait was formulated to increase the palatability, bioavailability, and stability of secondary metabolites of the two bitter plants resulting in both toxic and irreversible antifertility effects. This NSA bait has implication in the instant and long-term management of black rats under real field conditions. Graphical Abstract |
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| ISSN: | 2090-990X |