Ebook Biosecurity in animal production and veterinary medicine from principles to practice: Part 2

Part 2 book "Biosecurity in animal production and veterinary medicine from principles to practice" includes content: Rodent control in animal production, transmission of pig diseases and biosecurity in pig production, transmission of poultry diseases and biosecurity in poultry production, transmission of cattle diseases and biosecurity in cattle farms,... and other contents
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Ebook Biosecurity in animal production and veterinary medicine from principles to practice: Part 2 VetBooks.ir CHAPTER 11 RODENT CONTROL IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION Trees Loncke 1 Jeroen Dewulf 2 1 Alphatac, 8940 Wervik, Belgium 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium ACCO_Biosecurity_2019.indd 283 29/10/19 10:49 1 Introduction VetBooks.ir Animal production facilities are highly attractive to rodents as the conditions, such as an easily accessible abundance of food, plenty of shelter, and protection from variable and harsh climate conditions, are extremely beneficial to them. Unfortunately, the uncontrolled presence of rodents on farms can cause a lot of prob- lems. First of all they are a potential source of infectious disease transmission acting as both a biological as well as mechanical vec- tor (Amass and Baysinger, 2006). Rodents are recognised carri- ers of at least 35 diseases, including the major zoonoses such as campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, and yersiniosis, pasteurellosis, leptospirosis, swine dysentery, trichinosis, toxoplasmosis Hepati- tis E, EMC virus, PCV2 virus and rabies (Backhans and Fellstrom, 2012; Lapuz et al., 2008, 2012; Friedman et al., 2008; Pinheiro et al., 2013; CDC, 2017). Mice and rats can carry disease-caus- ing organisms on their feet and fur thus increas- ing the spread of disease. Rodents may roam the countryside looking for new food sources when animal houses are emptied, and return when they are repopulated. As a consequence they may not only be responsible for the spread of infectious agents within the farm, but they may also transmit diseases between farms or re-contaminate incom-  ing animals. In addition to transmitting diseases, Fig. 11.1:  Wire that has rodents can also cause substantial damage to building infrastruc- been damaged by rats tures, by eating the casing of electric wires (Fig. 11.1) for instance and consequentially causing electric short circuit which can cause a fire hazard (Lang et al., 2013). They will also frequently damage insulation material as this is one of their preferred locations for nesting. The presence of rodents may also stress animals (pigs, birds, etc.). As most rodents are noc- turnal, they are generally very active during the night and they may scare off the housed animals. And finally the rodents may also consume a substantial amount of animal feed and spoil the remainder of the feed. By way of example, 100 rats can eat up to 284 BIOSECURITY IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND VETERINARY MEDICINE ACCO_Biosecurity_2019.indd 284 29/10/19 10:49 2 kilos of animal feed per day. When measured over one year, this VetBooks.ir results in a loss of up to 700 kilos of feed (Lang et al., 2013). For all of these reasons it is highly advisable to try to keep rodents out of farms and animal housings as much as possible. If they are present, it is essential to control them and to try to eliminate them as quickly as possible. Rodents and the reasons for their success 2 The rodents we encounter the most in a ...