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Evaluation of a novel rodenticide: welfare assessment of fatal methaemoglobinaemia in adult rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

TJ Gibson ,
RJ Quy ,
CT Eason  and
NG Gregory
TJ Gibson*
Affiliation:
Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK
RJ Quy
Affiliation:
Animal and Plant Health Agency, York, UK
CT Eason
Affiliation:
Lincoln University and Connovation Research Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
NG Gregory
Affiliation:
Department of Production and Population Health, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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This study assessed the welfare of rats (Rattus norvegicus) poisoned with a lethal dose of the methaemoglobin (MetHb) inducing compound para-aminovalerophenone (PAVP). Twenty rats were orally gavaged with either PAVP (treated) or the vehicle only (control). Spontaneous and evoked behaviours were recorded and blood samples collected post mortem for analysis of MetHb%. Female and male rats received a mean (± SEM) dose of 263 (± 3) and 199 (± 6) mg PAVP kg−1, respectively. Mean (± SEM) time to death was 67 (± 16) and 354 (± 71) min for female and male rats, respectively. Control animals did not show any signs of intoxication. The time to death from methaemoglobinaemia in rats was significantly shorter than that reported for anticoagulants and there were no obvious signs of distress or pain.

Keywords

animal welfaredeathhypoxaemiamethaemoglobin (MetHb)methaemoglobinaemiarat
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , November 2015 , pp. 417 - 425
Copyright
© 2015 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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