AgriTT conference presentation on development of rodent fertility control

1. Pest Management Centre
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Rodent outbreak management to improve
livelihoods of African farmers
National Rodent Control Centre &
Ministry Agricultural Training Institute
Institute of Zoology
Chinese Academy of Sciences

3. 4 nights’ catch, 1917
Lascelles, Victoria, Australia

6. Discovery Channel (2011) Swarmchasers: Rats. Broadcast on Animal Planet
http://www.nri.org/projects/bandicoot/publications.htm
Or just internet search: swarmchasers belmain

7. Information about
rodent outbreaks in
Central Europe, North
America, Asia, sub-
Saharan Africa, Australia,
Oceania
Drivers of outbreaks, e.g.
masting events (beech
forests, bamboo),
extreme weather events,
climate, anthropogenic
Free download available
via Google books & IRRI
If you can’t beat them,
eat them recipes for
cooking rat meat

8. Chinese researchers leading the way in outbreak
prevention through development of fertility control
Zhang, Q., Wang, C., Liu, W., Qu, J., Liu, M., Zhang, Y., and Zhao, M. (2014). Degradation of the potential
rodent contraceptive quinestrol and elimination of its estrogenic activity in soil and water.
Environmental science and pollution research international 21, 652–9.
Liu, Q., Qin, J., Chen, Q., Wang, D., and Shi, D. (2013). Fertility control of Rattus nitidus using quinestrol:
effects on reproductive organs and social behavior. Integrative zoology 8 Suppl 1, 9–17.
Liu, M., Wan, X., Yin, Y., Li, Y., Sun, F., Zhang, Z., and Wang, Y. (2012). Subfertile effects of quinestrol and
levonorgestrel in male rats. Reproduction, fertility, and development 24, 297–308.
Liu, M., Qu, J., Wang, Z., Wang, Y.-L., Zhang, Y., and Zhang, Z. (2012). Behavioral mechanisms of male
sterilization on plateau pika in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Behavioural processes 89, 278–85.
Lv, X., and Shi, D. (2012). Combined effects of levonorgestrel and quinestrol on reproductive hormone
levels and receptor expression in females of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).
Zoological science 29, 37–42.
Liu, M., Qu, J., Yang, M., Wang, Z., Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., and Zhang, Z. (2012). Effects of quinestrol and
levonorgestrel on populations of plateau pikas, Ochotona curzoniae, in the Qinghai-Tibetan
Plateau. Pest management science 68, 592–601.
Wang, D., Li, N., Liu, M., Huang, B., Liu, Q., and Liu, X. (2011). Behavioral evaluation of quinestrol as a
sterilant in male Brandt’s voles. Physiology & behavior 104, 1024–30.
Zhao, M., Liu, M., Li, D., Wan, X., Hinds, L. A., Wang, Y., and Zhang, Z. (2007). Anti-fertility effect of
levonorgestrel and quinestrol in Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Integrative zoology 2,
260–8.

9. Reported outbreaks of the genus Mastomys on the African continent over an 80-year period. Updated after Fiedler (1988a),
Leirs (1995), Leirs et al (1996), and previously unpublished data collected during the Staplerat project. Abbreviated species
names: An, Arvicanthis sp.; Gl, Gerbilliscus leucogaster; Gg, Gerbillus sp.; Me, Mastomys erythroleucus; Mh, Mastomys
huberti; Mn, Mastomys natalensis; Rp, Rhabdomys pumilio; Tg, Taterillus gracilis.
Years Country Species References
1925-26 Tanzania Mn Harris (1937)
1930-31 Tanzania Mn Harris (1937)
1936 Tanzania Mn Kingdon (1974)
1951-52 Kenya, Tanzania Mn, An Heisch et al (1953), Taylor (1968)
1955-56 Tanzania, Uganda Mn, An Chapman et al (1959)
1961 South Africa M sp Malherbe (1963)
1962-63 Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Nigeria A Mn, An, Rp Taylor (1968), Brei (1981)
1963 South Africa Gg Hey (1974)
1966 Zambia Mn Sheppe (1972)
1966-69 Botswana, South Africa Mn, Gl Smithers (1971)
1967 Zimbabwe Mn Choate (1975)
1968 Kenya, Tanzania An Mkondya (1977), Staplerat report
1969 Sudan Mn, An Hopf et al (1976)
1971 Tanzania Mn Kingdon (1974)
1970-72 Nigeria Mn, An Brei (1981)
1975 Tanzania, Zimbabwe Mn Choate (1975), Mkondya (1977), Fiedler (1985)
1975-76 B Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan Mn, An, Mh, Me, Tg, Gg Poulet (1980), Brei (1981), Hubert and Adam (1985)
1977 Tanzania Mn, An Mkondya (1977)
1977-78 Kenya An, Mn Akiev (1982), Darlington (1984)
1978 Somalia Mn Barre (1978)
1979 Zambia Mn Staplerat report
1979-80 Senegal Me, Tg Hubert and Adam (1985)
1983-84 Tanzania Mn Telford (1989), SUAPMC C
1984-85 Zambia Mn Staplerat report
1986 Kenya Me Staplerat report
1986-87 Chad, Sudan An, Mn Fiedler (1988b)
1987 Tanzania Mn Leirs (1995), SUAPMC C
1989 Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya Mn, Me Mwanjabe (1990), Mwanjabe et al (2002), Staplerat report
1991 Zambia Mn Staplerat report
1998 Tanzania, Zambia Mn SUAPMC C, Staplerat report
2001 Tanzania, Zambia Mn SUAPMC C, Staplerat report
2005 Tanzania Mn SUAPMC C
A Reported as rodent outbreak south of Lake Chad in northern Nigeria in the early 1960s.
B A major rodent outbreak occurred throughout the Sahel region during this time period.
C Unpublished data, SUA Pest Management Center, Morogoro, Tanzania.

10. Documented rodent outbreaks since the 1920’s

11. Rodent outbreak hotspots in Tanzania
Frequency of interventions
made by the Rodent Control
Centre, Ministry of
Agriculture, Tanzania in
response to reported rodent
problems between the early
1980s and 2000. The darker
the zone, the more
interventions that were made.
Horizontal lines indicate places
with a unimodal rainfall
pattern (one cropping season)
and sloping lines have a
bimodal rainfall pattern
(usually two cropping
seasons).

12. Plague – Research in Africa and Europe
continues and recently in the news
McCauley, D.J. et al. (2015) Effects of
Land Use on Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Activity in Rodents in Tanzania
American Journal of Tropical Medicine
and Hygiene doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-
0504
Schmid, B.V. et al. (2015) Climate-
driven introduction of the Black Death
and successive plague reintroductions
into Europe Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences
doi:10.1073/pnas.1412887112
> 90% of all modern cases are in Africa

13. Rodent outbreak management to improve
livelihoods of African farmers
Investigating Chinese fertility control technology in Tanzania,
collecting baseline data on efficacy against African rodent species,
environmental effects, socio‐economics and social perceptions
Project aims:
1. Evaluate the prospect of Chinese technology to control
rodent populations using fertility control within an African
context
2. Assess the impact of using rodent contraceptives to manage
the multiple impacts of rats across agricultural value chains,
human and livestock health, and infrastructural damage
3. Understand the relative contributions of climate and/or
anthropogenic change on frequency/severity of the rodent
outbreak phenomenon

14. Workpackage 1: Laboratory evaluation of fertility control baits on reproductive
physiology of African rodent species
Clinical trial with mated pairs, assessing fitness, fecundity, behaviour, histology on the
multi-mammate rat, Mastomys natalensis
Workpackage 2: Field evaluation of fertility control on wild rodent population dynamics
CMR grids in centre of larger habitat, 3 treatments/grids (contraceptive, rodenticide,
untreated). Baiting throughout larger habitat, monthly monitoring of grids over two years
Workpackage 3: Environmental sustainability of rodent contraceptives
Collection of soil along transects in above over time, chemical assessment of
contraceptive and rodenticide via HPLC
Workpackage 4: Working with farmers and government training and extension
Ministry/community trials with contraceptive and rodenticide, implemented with MATI
and NRCC to assess impact (rodents, damage, social acceptance, financial sustainability)
via pre- and post-KAP, prospects for commercialisation
Workpackage 5: Project management, monitoring & evaluation, communication and
visibility

15. Workpackage 1: Laboratory evaluation of fertility
control baits
The laboratory phase of work including behavioural and physiological trials
is now complete
Palatability of the two hormones, levonorgestrel (LNG) and quinestrol (QE) is
at acceptable levels when fed to the multimammate rat, Mastomys
natalensis
Consumption of bait was affected by concentration, sex, and compound,
with levonorgestrel the more palatable compound and females accepting
the bait slightly more than males in some instances
Physiological effects on male rats were observed at all concentrations
reducing the weight of the testis and epididymis and reducing sperm count
by more than two orders of magnitude
Laboratory results suggest that levonorgestrel and quinestrol can be used to
manage the fertility of Mastomys natalensis and that field evaluation is
worthwhile pursuing

21. 0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Control QE 10 QE 50 QE 100 LNG 10 LNG 50 LNG 100
Meandailyconsumption(g,±s.e.)
Treatment compounds and concentration (ppm)
Average daily consumption rate by Mastomys natalensis
of bait containing either levonorgestrel (LNG) or
quinestrol (QE) over a 7 day period
Female Male

22. 0
1
2
3
4
5
Control QE/LNG 10 QE/LNG 50 QE/LNG 100
Meandailyconsumption(g,±s.e.)
Treatment and concentration (ppm)
Average daily consumption rate by Mastomys
natalensis of bait containing levonorgestrel (LNG) and
quinestrol (QE) over a 7 day period
Female Male

23. 0
1
2
3
4
5
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
Meandailyconsumption(g,±s.e.)
Average daily consumption by Mastomys natalensis of
bait containing fertility control hormones
levonorgestrel and quinestrol

26. 0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Control QE/LNG 10 QE/LNG 50 QE/LNG 100
Meantestisweight(g,±s.e.)
Treatment and concentration (ppm)
Average testis weight of Mastomys natalensis fed bait
containing levonorgestrel (LNG) and quinestrol (QE)
over a 7 day period

27. 0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
Control QE/LNG 10 QE/LNG 50 QE/LNG 100
Meanepididymisweight(g,±s.e.)
Treatment and concentration (ppm)
Average epididymis weight of Mastomys natalensis fed
bait containing levonorgestrel (LNG) and quinestrol
(QE) over a 7 day period

28. 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Control QE/LNG 10 QE/LNG 50 QE/LNG 100
Averagespermcount(±s.e.)
Treatment and concentration (ppm)
Average sperm count in male Mastomys natalensis rats
fed bait containing both levonorgestrel (LNG) and
quinestrol (QE) for 7 days

29. Effect SS df Ms F p
Day 33.4 6 5.57 4.80 0.000
Treatment 259.8 6 43.30 37.28 0.000
Sex 3.6 1 3.57 3.07 0.081
Day*treatment 50.2 36 1.39 1.20 0.205
Day*sex 4.9 6 0.82 0.71 0.643
Treatment*sex 69.7 6 11.62 10.01 0.000
Day*treatment*sex 22.0 36 0.61 0.52 0.990
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showing most important
parameter is Treatment, followed by Day and interactive
effect of Treatment X Sex, i.e. some, but not all, treatments
had differential bait uptake by males vs. females

30. Workpackage 2: Field evaluation of fertility control
on wild rodent population dynamics
CMR grid in centre of larger field, CMR operating every
month, 3 consecutive nights per month (the usual procedure)
Larger field is treated with bait (contraceptive, rodenticide,
untreated bait) One time baiting inside bamboo
Two replicates of each treatment , i.e. 6 CMR grids: two
baited with rodenticide, two with hormones, two with
untreated bait
Monitor captures and recaptures over time, male/female/
juvenile/adult

33. 90 m
90m
316 m316m

35. 10 x 10 CMR grid = 0.81 hectares,
At the centre of a field size of 10 hectares
Bait stations every 20 metres, at the standard 10
g/bait, 3kg/hectare (amount will depend on baseline)
Set up CMR start of April with 3 nights of baseline
trapping followed by single episode of baiting
Continue CMR monitoring until December 2015 (and
perhaps beyond to March 2016)
Chinese partners to visit Tanzania in conjunction with
implementation
Workpackage 2: Field evaluation of fertility control
on wild rodent population dynamics

36. Workpackage 3: Environmental sustainability of
rodent contraceptives
Seven days after baiting, environmental sampling will be
done at time 0, 2, 4 weeks
Soil samples will be taken from next to the bait station
entry/exit, and 0.5 and 1m distant.
10 bait stations outside of those found in the CMR grid will
be randomly chosen (n=90).
Chemical assessment (HPLC) for presence of contraceptive
and rodenticide
Zhang, Q., Wang, C., Liu, W., Qu, J., Liu, M., Zhang, Y., and
Zhao, M. (2014). Degradation of the potential rodent
contraceptive quinestrol and elimination of its estrogenic
activity in soil and water. Environmental science and
pollution research international 21, 652–9.

38. Workpackage 4: Working with farmers and
government training and extension
Ministry/community trials with contraceptive,
rodenticide, implemented with MATI and NRCC to
assess impact (rodents, damage, social acceptance,
financial sustainability) via pre- and post-KAP
To be implemented in April with 30 farmers (15
rodenticide and 15 contraceptive)
Use to be monitored by NRCC
Deliver a feedback questionnaire
Registration and commercialisation: several options
e.g. Chinese company registering in Tanzania/China,
Pest Management Centre registering and licensing
company to produce and market

39. Workpackage 5: Project management, monitoring &
evaluation, communication and visibility
Financial and technical reporting
Coordination meetings
Scientific publications – peer-reviewed, posters
Leaflets, radio, internet, TV, in-house, popular press
articles and interviews wherever possible
Project website – http://projects.nri.org/contrat/

42. Monitoring and milestones
Output 1: High quality, relevant research that assesses the
feasibility of fertility control to manage rodent outbreaks in
Tanzania is completed
Target of 4 publications, one in draft, others are outlined
Output 2: Research is made accessible and evidence-informed
discussions are facilitated
Website hits/month, press releases (5), popular press (5)
SUA TV broadcast February 2015, ITV Tanzania interview to
be broadcast, 2 articles in Tanzanian newspapers
Output 3: Capacity is built to carry out, communicate and to use
research evidence
Number of researchers, extension staff and farmers trained

43. Fertility control vs. rats raising cats?

44. Thank you
for listening