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Evaluation of a novel rodenticide: acute sub-lethal effects of a methaemoglobin-inducing agent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

RJ Quy ,
TJ Gibson ,
MS Lambert ,
CT Eason  and
NG Gregory
RJ Quy
Affiliation:
Animal and Plant Health Agency, York, UK
TJ Gibson*
Affiliation:
Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK
MS Lambert
Affiliation:
Animal and Plant Health Agency, York, UK
CT Eason
Affiliation:
Lincoln University and Connovation Research Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
NG Gregory
Affiliation:
Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: tgibson@rvc.ac.uk
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Abstract

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In a series of experiments the welfare of para-aminovalerophenone (PAVP) sub-lethally poisoned rats (Rattus norvegicus) was assessed. The experiments: (i) examined the acute methaemoglobin (MetHb) profile over time; (ii) refined the LD50 estimate for PAVP in adult female rats; (iii) developed and validated three neurological tests; and (iv) assessed rats for neurological deficit following prolonged methaemoglobinaemia. The results from the first three experiments were used to refine the sub-lethal study. In the sub-lethal experiment 20 rats were gavaged with a single dose of 40 mg kg−1 PAVP (based on an LD50 estimate of 43.3 mg kg−1). Control rats (n = 10) were treated with the carrier only. Eleven (surviving) PAVP-treated rats and controls were assessed over a two-week period. Rats were tested for forelimb grip strength, stability on an inclined plane and the ability to remove tape wrapped around a forepaw in order to determine deficits in motor functions and sensorimotor integration. Signs of recovery began 3-6 h post-dosing, with all animals showing no outward signs of poisoning within 48 h, and over the 14-day post-treatment monitoring period they gained weight and increased their food consumption. There was no significant overall difference in performance between PAVP-treated and control rats in any of the three neurological tests. In the inclined plane test, performance of sub-lethally PAVP-poisoned rats appeared to be temporarily impaired with treated animals slipping at a lower angle than controls on day two. During the tape removal test, four PAVP-treated rats failed to remove the tape within the 3-min time limit on one occasion each (4/77 occasions) up to seven days post-dosing. The severity and duration of signs following acute sub-lethal PAVP poisoning appeared to be lower than those reported for existing rodenticides. It is likely that the results presented in this study extend to other MetHb-inducers.

Keywords

animal welfarehypoxaemiamethaemoglobin (MetHb)methaemoglobinaemiaratsub-lethal
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , November 2015 , pp. 427 - 436
Copyright
© 2015 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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