CALCIFEROLS AND BAIT SHYNESS IN THE LABORATORY RAT

Authors

C.V. Prescott, Vertebrate Pests Unit, Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Reading
Vusa El-Amin, Vertebrate Pests Unit, Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Reading
R.H. Smith, Vertebrate Pests Unit, Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, University of Reading

Date of this Version

March 1992

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Rodenticides with delayed action are generally more effective than fast-acting compounds because of the phenomenon of bait shyness. Calciferols have a stop-feed effect quite soon after dosing, and physiological effects are measurable within one day of dosing. We investigated whether bait shyness might result from these fairly rapid effects in the laboratory rat. We found evidence of bait shyness following recovery from sub-lethal dosing with two forms of calciferol. Use of intubation as well as feeding showed that the response was to the bait carrier rather than to detection of calciferols per se.