Impact of Rodent Outbreaks in Rice Paddies on Incidence of Rodent-borne Zoonosis in Human Populations

  • Srinivasa Rao Namala All India Network Project on Vertebrate Pest Management (ICAR Scheme), Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Maruteru, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • B Anusha All India Network Project on Vertebrate Pest Management (ICAR Scheme), Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Maruteru, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • AMK Mohan Rao Former Joint Director (VPM), National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Hyderabad, Telangana, India & Member Vector Control Working Group for Asia Pacific, Swiss TPH, Switzerland
  • SN Sharma National Centre for Disease Control, Civil Lines, Delhi, India
Keywords: Rice Paddies, Bandicota Bengalensis, Rattus, Residential Premises, Flea Index, Zoonosis

Abstract

A study conducted in an area encircled by rice paddies on a rodent abundance, population, and flea vector index during normal and rodent outbreak periods revealed that the rodent populations of rice paddies were colonised in rice fields and are not migrated much to the residential areas even during the outbreak years. The predominance of Rattus rattus (94.2%) was recorded among the rodent species in residential premises, whereas in rice paddies, it was lesser bandicoot Bandicota bengalensis (98.9%). Among the structures in a residential area, bakeries were the most infested with pest rodents followed by grocery and vegetable stores. The recorded rat flea index of below 1 from the animals trapped in residential premises and no progression in fever and other ill health conditions among the residents even during field rodent outbreak years show no risk of zoonotic diseases like plague. Rodenticide poison offered through liquids has recorded high intake and control success over the market available ready-to-use bait cakes.

How to cite this article:
Namala SR, Anusha B, Rao AMKM, Sharma SN. Impact of Rodent Outbreaks in Rice Paddies on Incidence of Rodent-borne Zoonosis in Human Populations. J Commun Dis. 2022;54(2):33-38.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202268

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Published
2022-06-30