Distribution of VKORC1 single nucleotide polymorphism in wild Rattus norvegicus in France.
BACKGROUND
Anticoagulant rodenticides are commonly used to control rodent pests all over the world. These pesticides inhibit one enzyme of the vitamin K cycle, Vkorc1, and thus prevent blood clotting and cause death by haemorrhage. Resistance to anticoagulants was first observed in Scotland in 1958, and more potent anticoagulants have been developed to overcome this obstacle. Unfortunately, these chemicals are very toxic and cannot be used everywhere. Some authors have shown that resistance to anticoagulants seems closely linked with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the Vkorc1 gene.


RESULTS
This study draws a map of SNP and haplotypes found in Vkorc1 in rats from different areas of France. Some of them had never been described before. Moreover, the Y139F mutation, described previously in France and Belgium, is the most frequent in France. This mutation is known to be associated with a strong resistance to anticoagulants, and it was found in 28% of the samples.


CONCLUSIONS
This biomolecular approach to studying and detecting resistance is easier to carry out than the phenotypic approach measuring blood coagulation time because it can be conducted on biological samples from dead animals, and it is less dangerous for the operator.
Grandemange
Agnes
A
UMR 1233 INRA/DGER Université de Lyon, National Veterinary School of Lyon, BP 83, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France.
Lasseur
Romain
R
Longin-Sauvageon
Christiane
C
Benoit
Etienne
E
Berny
Philippe
P
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000235:genetics*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005602:France; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats / Q000235:genetics*; D012375:Rodent Control; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064417:Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases
D000925:Anticoagulants; D012378:Rodenticides; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D064417:Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases