Biology and Control of Insects and Rodents Workshop The Biology of Urban Rodents as it Relates to Disease Potential

Transcription

1 The Biology Of Urban Rodents As it Relates to Disease Potential NEHA Conference June 23, 2006 Add corrigan; max wts. Here. Are there a lot of rodents in many of America s Cities? Yes. Page 1

2 Killing some rats in a few burrows on a particular street Vs. Managing rodent populations to tolerable levels in a NYC neighborhood. Managing rodent populations in a large city is a complex undertaking requiring the coordinated efforts among all city agencies and The cooperation of the public (if only ) However, some rat infestations can become chronic and last for many years.why? Page 2

3 City Super Rats? City Super Rats? Page 3

4 Integrated Agency Approach Integrated Management Approaches 1. Urban myths about city rats Page 4

5 1. Super rats; big as 2. Becoming immune to the poisons 3. Legions of rats below the city 4. Dog food/feces offsets poisons 5. Rats know it s a trap 6. 1 rat per person 7. Rodents must gnaw on objects to keep teeth from growing. 8. Cats control rats and mice Updates. Page 5

6 Updates. Updates. Updates. Page 6

7 Rodents as pests 1. Can transmit diseases: 2. Quality of life 3. Frighten people 4. Bite people 5. Gnaw on wires/pipes Disease and Health Implications Associated with Rodents in Urban Areas June 2006 Page 7

8 May people die from Mouse -borne Lymphocytic choriomeningitis June 2005 Grocery Distribution Center fined 1M Due to rodent infestation March 2006 Grocery Distribution Center fined 8.2 M President of DC: 2 yrs. Prison Page 8

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14 A case of size matters? Dogs, cats, raccoons, mice Indoor air quality and health: Mold (non PMP) Chemicals (Part PMP) Pest bio- residues and excrement (?) Page 14

15 Rodents and Indoor Air Quality: A Future Issue? Rodents and diseases Rodents/Food Poisoning Rodents and hanta virus Rats and Hepatitus E Rats and Leptospirosis Mice and LCM virus Mice and Allergens Mouse Allergen Increases Asthma Risk in Inner-City Homes 2/10/2005 Airborne levels of mouse allergen in many inner-city homes may be high enough to trigger asthma attacks in children. Johns Hopkins Children's Center study in the February issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Page 15

16 The Significance of House Mouse Fecal Pellets Found in Urban Structures as Reservoirs of the Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) Researchers RMC Pest Management Consulting: Bobby Corrigan, Ph.D Purdue University: Wan-Tien Tsai Linda Mason, Ph.D Jeff Stuart, Ph.D And Participating Pest Management Professionals A National Pest Management Foundation Research Study Jointly Funded by: The National Pest Management Association And The Pest Management Alliance Page 16

17 Rodent excrement 1. Urine (mouse urinary protein) (allergies) 2. Fecal pellets (?) LCM virus, salmonella, and what (if any) other pathogens?? Page 17

18 LCMV Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus Perhaps the most overlooked disease in developed areas According to the Centers for Disease Control, LCMV may be contracted by humans through the inhalation of dust contaminated with dried mouse feces or through consumption of food adulterated with mouse excrement. It is especially important to note that the CDC also reports that LCM in our urban areas is in grossly unrecognized and underreported because it mimics symptoms of the "flu". Center for Disease Control Lymphocytic choriomeningitus. Page 18

19 Jahrling, P.B, C.J. Peters Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: a neglected pathogen of man. Arch Pathol Lab Med ;116: Peters, C.J.., and T.G Ksiazek, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: an unrecognized teratogenic pathogen. Emerging Infect Dis. I (4): About 5 percent of mice, hamsters and other rodents carry LCMV and about 2 percent of the general public has antibodies to it, meaning they've been exposed to it at some point. Mouse feces (animal excrement) in our urban buildings has been overlooked as an indoor air pollutant (e.g,, nursing homes, offices, etc... Page 19

20 PHOTO HERE Mouse colonies often establish defecation areas ( latrines ) ceilings, wall voids, etc. Page 20

21 IPM in urban buildings, schools, offices, etc: A worry about small amounts of pesticides in the indoor air- - but not airborne fecal residues? Mouse fecal pellets will be collected from: 5 different regions of the U.S. * Schools * Office Buildings * Food Serving Establishments * Health Care Facilities * Multi-family Housing 1. Laboratory techniques for isolating the LCM virus from feces have been improved/ developed at Purdue. Page 21

22 RNA iscript TM cdna synthesis Kit cdna PCR Primer F, R 140 b.p. Thermal cycle 30 cycles under 55 annealing temperature Electrophoresis (Gel 1) RT-PCR 1000 b.p. 850 b.p. 650 b.p. 500 b.p. 400 b.p. 300 b.p. 200 b.p. 100 b.p. MWM 1 2 MWM: Molecular weight mark 1: 1st feces sample 1 2: 1st feces sample 2 3. Feces from real world facilities 1. Food plant A: + LCM 2. Food plant B old: - LCM 3. Food plant B new: - LCM 4. Ext. Pharmaceutical +LCM 5. East coast commercial pest management route: >50% PHOTO HERE Page 22

23 Of Demanding Health Inspectors And Dedicated Pest Management Professionals Who owns the responsibility for the presence of rodent feces inside buildings? The clients are responsible for maintaining the air quality of the building E.g., molds, bacteria from dirt, animal excrement, etc. But relative to pests, the pest professional should document what areas may need cleaning attention. Page 23

24 The building owner/ the facility management Who owns the responsibility for alerting for the presence of rodent feces inside buildings? Feces are sometimes deposited in visible and accessible areas; But rodent s also commonly deposited in out of the way, out of sight areas, areas where pest professionals and health professionals are trained to inspect Page 24

25 Scats Scatology Scatologist Typical adult mouse on average diet: fecal pellets /24 hr Page 25

26 Typical adult N. rat on average diet: fecal pellets /24 hr Page 26

27 Colors: Black (1) Brown (2) Food-dependant Rodent bait colors. Black and shiny doesn t prove their fresh Grayish/ dusty doesn t prove they are old. Can you age old droppings? Page 27

28 No. Can you age fresh droppings? Mice: soft/moist 3 hrs. Rats: 24 hrs. Page 28

29 But Its location, location, location. Large insects (Am. Cockroaches, field crickets) vs. mice Page 29

30 Common everyday items that may look like mouse droppings but are not: Burnt food pieces Pipe rubber/foam insulation Caraway seeds Maltoform seeds Chocolate sprinkles OTJ doubt while looking at turds is nothing to be embarrassed about. Hand lens and possibly more Page 30

31 In many cities, the presence of rodent feces are considered by health and food safety inspectors As smoking guns As to the premises having a rodent problem. Page 31

32 Pest Professionals Health Professionals: Provide How-to fact sheets for removing small (and large) quantities of rodent feces www. cdc. gov Page 32