Effects of different essential oils on the acceptability and palatability of cereal-based baits for laboratory mice

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate the possibility of application of essential oils as additives in cereal-based rodenticide baits, at rates which prevent mould development and are applicable in humane medicine. Also, the purpose of these oils would be to extend the utility value of baits and reduce the use of antifungal ingredients that usually affect bait acceptance. The effects of essential oils of ten different plant species, applied at rates of one and two ml per kg of plain bait, on bait acceptance and palatability in choice feeding tests for Swiss mice were studied under controlled laboratory conditions. Baits were prepared according to relevant EPPO standards (2004). The effects of essential oils on bait acceptance and palatability for Swiss mice were determined in choice feeding tests using a formula by Johnson and Prescott (1994). There was no significant statistical difference in effects between groups and sexes regarding weight change in the experiment. During the experiment and recovery period, neither change in mice behavior no deaths were observed. Cinnamon and anise essential oils, commonly used as attractants, and clove oil, were most effective because they had no negative effect on bait acceptance and palatability, while fenchel and bergamot oils showed repellent activity that grew as the oil content in baits increased.

Namera istraživanja je bila da se utvrdi mogućnost primene ispitivanih esencijalnih ulja u rodenticidnim mamcima kao potencijalnih dodataka, u količinama kojima bi se onemogućio razvoj plesni i koje su primenjive u humanoj medicini. Na taj način, primenom ovih esencijalnih ulja produžila bi se upotrebna vrednost mamaka i redukovala količina primene konzervanasa, koji najčešće negativno utiču na prihvatljivost mamaka. Pod kontrolisanim laboratorijskim uslovima, u testu sa izborom hrane, utvrđivan je uticaj esencijalnih ulja deset različitih vrsta biljaka, u količinama od 1 i 2 ml/kg placebo mamca na prihvatljivost i palatabilnost za jedinke domaćeg miša, soja Swiss. Ispitivani mamci su pripremljeni u skladu sa metodom EPPO (2004) standarda. Uticaj esencijalnih ulja na prihvatljivost i palatabilnost mamaka je izračunat na osnovu proporcije koju su predložili Johnson i Prescott (1994). Nisu utvrđene statistički značajne razlike u težinama između slučajno odabranih grupa eksperimentalnih jedinki. Tokom eksperimenta i u periodu oporavka nisu zabeležene promene u ponašanju eksperimentalnih jedinki, kao ni uginuća. Esencijalna ulja cimeta i anisa, koji se i inače koriste kao atraktanti, i ulje karanfilića, ispoljili su najbolje efekte, odnosno nisu negativno uticali na prihvatljivost i palatabilnost, dok su ulja morača i bergamota ispoljili repelentno dejstvo, koje je bilo izraženije povećavanjem sadržaja ulja u mamcima.