An analysis of the susceptibilities of several populations of Rattus norvegicus to warfarin

Abstract

SummaryAn analysis was made of the dose-response of several populations of Rattus norvegicus fed upon baits containing 0·005% warfarin for various numbers of days. Warfarin-susceptible populations fell within a narrow range, with LFP50s and LFP98s (lethal feeding periods in days to obtain 50% and 98% mortalities respectively) of up to 3·0 and 5·0 days respectively. The probability of an individual rat from these populations surviving a six-day feeding period was estimated at 0·003 or less. Populations with responses falling beyond these limits were regarded as warfarin-resistant.Six of nine populations of R. norvegicus, from England, Germany and the United States, were determined to be warfarin-susceptible within the narrow limits given above. In all six cases, no animals survived the six-day WHO feeding test for anticoagulant susceptibility. In three populations from the United States, where rats survived six days feeding, their population responses clearly fell outside the measures given above. It is suggested, tentatively, that anticoagulantresistant Norway rat populations be defined as those whose LFP50 and LFP98 exceeds 3·0 and 5·0 days respectively, and in which the probability of an individual animal surviving a six-day feeding upon 0·005% warfarin is 0·01 or more.