21 ICRAD Future rodent management for pig and poultry health (RodentGate)

Lead Research Organisation: University of Greenwich
Department Name: Natural Resources Institute, FES

Abstract

Apart from consuming and spoiling animal feed, and damaging infrastructure in and around farm buildings, rodents are a considerable threat to animal health and One Health. They can cause direct stress on pigs and poultry but are mainly important as carriers of pathogens. These include economically very significant diseases like Swine dysentery, Aujeszky's Disease, PCV2 and Encephalomyocarditis. Wild brown rats can carry Influenza A and might act as an intermediate for the transmission of avian influenza between wild birds and poultry. For some other diseases like African Swine Fever, rodents may act as mechanical reservoirs or they may support ticks that can carry ASF. Rodents also play a role in the epidemiology of leptospirosis and salmonellosis or in spreading antibiotic resistant bacterial strains such as livestock-associated MRSA. They can pick up the infection from infected pigs or poultry and spread it within and between farms, they can act as a bridge between wild fauna and livestock, and they can maintain the infection locally when a farm is emptied and decontaminated after a disease outbreak or livestock turnover. Thus, there are very good reasons for rodent management on pig and poultry farms. An important approach has always been the use of rodenticides. However, concerns about the environmental safety of the most common rodenticides has led to changes in the European and national regulations that restrict their use and pose new challenges for efficient rodent management on farms. There is also the problem of resistance against these poisons. This project RODENTGATE will investigate the rodent-related risks for animal health in the pig and poultry industry and how this might change with altered rodent control. Ecologically-based rodent management is a strategy that combines an Integrated Pest Management approach with a thorough knowledge of the rodent ecology, enabling interventions to be precisely targeted in time and space, whilst being ecologically and economically sustainable. This requires a very good understanding of the rodent demography, life history, space use, dispersal capacities as well appropriate documentation of pathogen presence and transmission patterns in the rodent population. Proper understanding of transmission mechanisms is crucial since killing hosts may have unexpected effects on the spreading of an infection.

Technical Summary

Apart from consuming and spoiling animal feed, and damaging infrastructure in and around farm buildings, rodents are a considerable threat to One Health. An important component of rodent control strategies has always been the use of rodenticides. However, concerns about the environmental safety of the most common rodenticides has led to changes in the European and national regulations that restrict their use and pose new challenges for efficient rodent management on farms. RODENTGATE will investigate the rodent-related risks for animal health in the pig and poultry industry and how this might change with altered rodent control. RODENTGATE focuses on pig and poultry farms since this is where most rodent-related problems can be expected. Rodents cause direct stress effects on the livestock but are mainly important as carriers of pathogens. Rodents can pick up the infection from infected pigs or poultry and spread it within and between farms, they can act as a bridge between wild fauna and livestock, and they can maintain the infection locally when a farm is emptied and decontaminated after a disease outbreak or livestock turnover. Ecologically-based rodent management is a strategy that combines an Integrated Pest Management approach with a thorough knowledge of the rodent ecology, enabling interventions to be precisely pointed in time and space, whilst being ecologically and economically sustainable. This requires a very good understanding of the rodent demography, life history, space use, dispersal capacities as well appropriate documentation of pathogen presence and transmission patterns in the rodent population. Proper understanding of transmission mechanisms is crucial since killing hosts may have unexpected effects on the spreading of an infection. While there is a large body of literature about the ecology of rodents in the wild, the information about the aspects mentioned above is remarkably scarce in livestock farm settings.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Rodents are involved in the maintenance and transfer of pathogens on UK farms to a higher extent than in other European countries. This is likely related to different farming practices in the UK where higher animal welfare standards mean that it is more difficult to exclude rodents accessing livestock food.
Exploitation Route It is still to early to say. Project has received a no-cost extension to end of 2024 to align with delays experienced by European partners involved in the project.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

 
Description Prof Belmain has interacted with the pest control industry to discuss the use of rodenticides in comparison to other technologies commonly used for rodent control with respect to livestock farms (shooting, trapping, dogs). Atleast some in the industry are moving away from the use of rodenticides to focus on what are perceived to be more effective solutions involving training hunting dogs. Prof Belmain has been interviewed for the ITV Tonight programme, talking about rodent management in the UK, with reference to the rodentgate project activities, particularly investigating relationships between rodents, livestock and pathogen transfer. The programme should be aired quite soon and will update with a link when known.
First Year Of Impact 2024
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

 
Description Society Events Grant
Amount £380 (GBP)
Organisation Microbiology Society 
Sector Learned Society
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 03/2023
 
Description Flash Talk & Poster Presentation at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A flash talk and poster was presented at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference, which attracts over 1,600 people each year, making it the UK's largest annual gathering of microbiologists. The talk was well received and sparked questions from the audience interested in our research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://microbiologysociety.org/events/annual-conference.html?eventYear=2023
 
Description national newspaper special feature in the Telegraph Saturday magazine on 19th Feb 2022 as well as online under Global Health Security 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact a special feature on rodent research related to two different UKRI funded projects, both projects are mentioned in the article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/rise-of-the-rodent/
 
Description training talk to the UK pest control industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Talk about the rodentgate project, the role of rodents in disease transmission to livestock and issues related to rodent management. The talk is recorded and available to watch on an industry website.
https://www.barrettineenv.co.uk/65/3188/rodent-diseases-in-uk-livestock
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.barrettineenv.co.uk/65/3188/rodent-diseases-in-uk-livestock