Rodenticide efficacy of sodium selenite baits in laboratory conditions

Abstract

We examined the acceptance and palatability of baits containing different contents of sodium selenite as a rodenticide, in Swiss mice under laboratory conditions. In a no-choice and choice feeding test, the animals were exposed to baits containing 0.1, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.0125% of sodium selenite. The total bait consumption by Swiss mice in the no-choice feeding test was highly negatively correlated, while total sodium selenite intake was medium-positively correlated to the sodium selenite content in the bait. In the same test, daily intakes significantly depended on the content of sodium selenite in the bait, while the exposure and associated interactions of contents of sodium selenite and exposure had no statistically significant impact. Baits with sodium selenite contents of 0.05 and 0.1% had the most lethal effects. The negative impact of the sodium selenite content on bait acceptance and palatability was confirmed in choice feeding tests. Baits containing 0.05 and 0.1% of sodium selenite displayed the biological potential to be used as a rodenticide. It is necessary to improve its insufficient acceptability and palatability by adding adequate additives to the bait. The results of this study should be verified in experiments with wild rodents.