title: Laboratory Evaluation of a Rodenticide-insecticide, Coumavec®, against Rhombomys opimus, the Main Reservoir Host of Zoonotic Cutaneouse Leishmaniasis in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is a growing health problem in many rural areas of Iran. Rhombomys opimus, the great gerbil, is the main animal reservoir of ZCL in the northeast and central part of Iran. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the rodenticidal effect of Coumavec® (a mixture of Coumatetralyl 0.5% and Etofenprox 0.5%) on R. opimus under laboratory condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Great gerbils were collected from Sejzi rural district, Esfahan Province, Iran. Four groups of 19 great gerbils were treated with the poisoned baits of different concentrations and one group was considered as control. The bating procedure was conducted in three stages: first, second (a week after first) and third (a month after first stage), in each stage baits were offered in 1 day, based on national protocol for rodent control operation in purpose of ZCL control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mortality rate for 0.03, 0.0625, 0.125 and 0.25% concentrations in the first stage of baiting were obtained 36.8%, 31.5%, 52.6% and 36.8%, in the second stage 47.3%, 52.6%, 68.4% and 52.6%, and in the third stage 52.6%, 63.1%, 68.4% and 57.8% respectively. The maximum and minimum mortality has occurred in 5-6 days and 31-40 days intervals consequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study showed that, Coumavec® has some rodenticidal effects on R. opimus in laboratory condition. For the appropriate rodenticide-insecticide contamination of the rodent body and also considering to the economic issues, we suggest the use of 0.125% concentration for rodent control operation in the field condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arshad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veysi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vatandoost
authors.affiliation: Esfahan Health Research Station, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Arandian
authors.affiliation: Esfahan Health Research Station, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Yaghoobi-Ershadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Yavar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rassi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akhavan
keywords: Coumatetralyl; Iran; Rhombomys opimus; Rodenticide; Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis