WO2019081671A1

WO2019081671A1 - Rodenticide baits

Info

Publication number: WO2019081671A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/079338
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rossi LUCIA; Massimo Tagliaro; Pierpaolo Zambotto
Original assignee: Zapi Industrie Chimiche S.P.A
Priority date: 2017-10-26
Filing date: 2018-10-25
Publication date: 2019-05-02
Also published as: IT201700099420A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rodenticide bait for preventing and treating infestations by the rodent species comprising natural substances, such as hulls of seeds or caryopses or a mixture thereof as active ingredients.

Description

RODENTICIDE BAITS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of rodents infestations, such as for example rat and mice infestations, has become notoriously one of the sanitary priorities, especially in urban centre, where adequate hygienic- sanitary standards must be ensured.

Rats and mice not only live a parasitic life, that impoverishes available food resources, but also they are carriers of diseases injurious to humans or domestic animals.

Finding mice in your home or in public places can be very distressing. Mice can spread disease in their search for food and shelter, posing health risks particularly in kitchens and food storage areas. Mice can cause other problems, so taking action to eliminate a mouse infestation quickly is important

Consequently, over the years there have been developed various disinfestation systems, both of physical/electronic and chemical types.

Physical Means

Mechanical traps, glues and ultrasounds are known among the physical means available for controlling the infestations.

The first ones currently find application mainly in a census of infesting species and the number of appearances. It is recommended to distribute a fair amount thereof in transit ways, baiting them with different food substances. For example, rats and mice need fresh food, preferably with an odour that will attract them close enough to be caught.

In many countries a captured animal is subject to animal welfare legislation making it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering. Therefore, the traps need to be checked frequently (morning and evening) to release any non-target animals caught. It may be illegal to relocate and release rodent pests, therefore if you use the traps you need to know how to kill the animal humanely, or arrange for an expert to do it. The product you are using should advise you of relevant local legislation. The glues are adhesive substances that can be useful in case of not massive infestations and in cases in which the use of chemical rodenticide is not advisable. High environment temperatures and dustiness of rooms are the main disadvantages that reduce their effectiveness.

Electronic Means

As far as ultrasound use is concerned, it has been found that the murine species gets rapidly inured to the typical frequencies used, those over 20 MHz, not perceptible to the human ear. In addition, it has been found that the sound annoyance is more irritating for domestic animals than for rodents. Chemical Means

The available chemical disinfesting means can be subdivided into the following classes:

I. Repellents,

II. Attractants,

III. Chemosterilants,

IV. Rodenticides.

I. Repellents

From among many tested substances, actidione, trinitrobenzene-aniline, thiouram disulfide, hexachlorophene and various dithiocarbamates have proven to be particularly active. However, the repellents alone do not manage to solve the infestation problem, because the rodents repelled from one determined area, escape to another one.

II. Attractants

The attractants are used to attract the animals to precise places, overcoming the natural and innate suspiciousness of the rodent species. Generally, there are two groups of most commonly used substances: pheromones, natural specific smells, and compounds not connected to natural hormonal smells, which include: vegetable oils of various kinds, sugar, molasses, glycerol, salt, sodium glutamate, etc. Besides the pheromones, other volatile substances have proven to have good attractant efficacy and among them there is carbon disulphide, which is effective in increasing the bait consumption.

III. Chemosterilants

The chemosterilants have been finding application in more recent times. For example, the use of triethylene melamine is known, but it has a limit of not being able to sterilize males and females at the same time. The chemosterilants have also the limit of not being effective in only one administration. Although capable of eliminating up to 85% of the treated murine population and causing permanent sterility in surviving adult males, ochlorohydrin is not active on the young prepubertal, on the females of Rattus norvegicus and on both genders and all ages of the Mus musculus. In addition to these limitations, the chemosterilants cannot be used in case of massive infestation or where the presence of even a single Mus musculus cannot be tolerated.

IV. Rodenticides

Rodenticides are an efficient means of rodent control, but many people are reluctant to use poisonous chemicals around the home, especially in the presence of children and pets. The wide class of chemical rodenticide products can be divided in two main categories: A) acute or single dose rodenticides and B) chronic (anticoagulants) or multiple-dose rodenticides.

A) Acute rodenticides (Poisons)

Natural poisons (Α') and synthetic poisons (A") belong to the first category: the natural ones (Α') include scilliroside and strychnine, while synthetic poisons (A") include crimidine, sodium fluoroacetate and fluoroacetamide, zinc phosphide, norbomide, thallium sulfate and ANTU. Although acute rodenticides A) are not effective as the chronic ones B), they can be validly used in emergency situations, when the rat population must be destroyed in the shortest time. However, they have many disadvantages, among which stands out extreme dangerousness for man and non-target species and increase of the rodents' suspiciousness.

Chronic rodenticides (Anticogulants)

The most effective and most used instruments for fighting against rats remain poisoned preparations containing chronic rodenticides B), which typically contain a single anticoagulant active ingredient. These preparations take advantage of a mode of action that does not occur before 2-3 days after the ingestion, independently from the quantity of the ingested food.

The chronic rodenticides are anticoagulants that can be subdivided, according to the mode of action, into B1 ) first generation anticoagulants (multiple dose) and B2) second generation anticoagulants (single dose).

First Generation Anticoagulants

Warfarin, coumachlor, coumatetralyl, coumafuryl, pivaldione, diphacinone and chlorophacinone belong to the first set.

B2) Second Generation Anticoagulants

Bromadiolon, diphenacoum, brodifacoum and the most recent difethialone and flocoumafen belong to the second set.

Rodenticides pose a risk of accidental poisonings for several reasons. They are agents specifically designed to kill mammals; often their toxicity is very similar for the target rodents and for humans. Since rodents usually share environments with humans and other mammals, the risk of accidental exposure is an integral part of the placement of baits for the rodents.

Furthermore, as rodents have developed resistance to existing rodenticides, there is a continuous need to develop new and potentially more toxic rodenticides.

In addition, toxic rodenticides, however, pollute underground or surface water.

Therefore, in order to overcome the above drawbacks, there is a constant need to have rodenticide formulations with high disinfesting action and low toxicological profile for the non target species.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Applicant has surprisingly found that using natural substances, such as hulls of seeds or hulls of caryopses a disinfesting effect is obtained.

In addition, a toxic effect was not observed towards other, non rodent species, including human, that take the bait by chance.

Thus, the solution provided by the present invention is a rodenticide bait comprising hulls of seeds or caryopsis or a mixture thereof as active ingredients and a rodent attractant.

Furthermore, the use of hulls of seeds or caryopses significantly reduces the phenomena of rodents resistance to the rodenticides and such a composition can be made specific in the treatments, where resistance phenomena, due for example to anticoagulants, appear in a considerable way.

Thus, in a first aspect, the invention provides a rodenticide bait comprising hulls of seeds or hulls of caryopses or a mixture thereof as an active ingredient and attractants.

In particular, the invention provides a rodenticide bait comprising an active ingredient and attractants, wherein the active ingredient consists of hull of seeds or hulls of caryopses or a mixture thereof.

In a further aspect thereof, the invention provides the use of such active ingredients for controlling rodents.

In a further yet aspect thereof, the invention provides a process for preparing such baits.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of controlling rodents comprising placing the bait composition according to the invention at locations where said rodents live or where they pass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 describes the section of a seed, for example a soybean seed, in which the seed hull, also said seed coat, is clearly indicated.

Figure 2 describes hulls of caryopses (rice). A detail of the image, in which hulls of caryopsis are clearly indicated, has been enlarged for a better understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a rodenticide bait comprising hulls of seeds, caryopsis or a mixture thereof as active ingredient and attractants.

Particularly, the invention provides a rodenticide bait comprising an active ingredient and attractants, wherein the active ingredient consists of hull of seeds or hulls of caryopses or a mixture thereof.

DEFINITIONS

All numbers expressing quantities, percentages or proportions, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about."

It should be understood that the terms "a" and "an" as used herein refer to "one or more" of the enumerated components. It will be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise.

Unless otherwise stated, percentages in the present description are by weight.

As used herein, the terms "active ingredient(s) or rodenticide active ingredient(s)" refer to a rodenticide product that kill, control, or repel rodent pests.

As used herein the term "hull" refers to the outer hard and coriaceous layer of the seeds and caryopses as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The term "hull" is otherwise known as "husk", "shell", "shuck", "skin" or "rind".

As used herein the term "hull" is interchangeable with the term "husk", "shell", "shuck", "skin" or "rind" and intended to have the same meaning.

As used herein the term "attractant" or "bait attractant" are inert ingredients that act in one or several of the following ways: a) entice the rodent to approach the bait; b) entice the rodent to touch the bait; c) entice the rodent to consume the bait; e) entice the rodent to return to the bait. Inert ingredients that are able to achieve these goals belong to the group of food attractants.

As used herein the term binder indicates inert ingredients that help to compact the material during the pellet pressing phase, to obtain a better product quality.

As used herein the term "rodent" refers to rats and mice including Mus Musculus, Rattus Rattus and Rattus Norvegicus, and also to voles in particular Arvicola Microtus and Arvicola Terrestris.

Unless otherwise stated, the term "seeds" refers to soybeans, lentils, beans, peas, lupini beans, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.

Unless otherwise stated, the term "caryopses" refers to rice, wheat, barley, oat, emmer, millet, or rye.

In one embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is hulls of caryopsis selected from rice hulls, wheat hulls, barley hulls, oat hulls, emmer hulls, millet hulls or the active ingredient is hulls of seeds selected from soybean hulls, and lentil hulls or a mixture thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is hulls of a seed selected from soybean hulls, lentil hulls or a mixture thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention the active ingredient is hulls of a caryopsis selected from rice hulls, wheat hulls, barley hulls, oat hulls, emmer hulls, millet hulls or hulls of a seed selected from soybean hulls, and lentil hulls or a mixture thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention the active ingredient is rice hulls, soybean hulls or a mixture thereof.

In another embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls.

In another embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls.

In one embodiment, the amount of hulls of seeds or caryopsis according to the invention is from 40 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment, the amount of hulls of seeds or hulls of caryopsis according to the invention is from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment, the amount of hulls of seeds or hulls of caryopsis according to the invention is from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment, the amount of hulls of seeds or hulls of caryopsis according to the invention is from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition. In a further embodiment, the amount of rice hulls or soybean hulls according to the invention is from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment, the amount of rice hulls or soybean hulls according to the invention is from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment, the amount of rice hulls or soybean hulls according to the invention is from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment, the amount of hulls of seeds or caryopsis according to the invention is from 50 to 95% by weight of the bait composition.

In another embodiment the amount of hulls of seeds or caryopsis according to the invention is from 70% to 95% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment, the amount of hulls of seeds or caryopsis according to the invention is from 80 to 95% by weight of the bait composition.

The hulls according to the invention can be obtained by dehulling process (or decortication) which removes the hulls of seeds or caryopses.

The hull is formed during the growing season and it is removed before using the seed or caryopses for food purposes.

There are several methods of removing the hull from the corresponding seeds or caryopses.

Thus, the process for removing the hulls from caryopsis for example from rice uses a Rice Hulling Machine, wherein rice is passed through a series of sieves can be used to sift out debris. An air blower is then used to remove any top matter. The machine is designed to mimic the action of hand-held stones. The rice is loosened from the hull by rolling it in between two sheets of metal- coated abrasives. About 80 to 90 percent of the hull gets removed during this process.

The hulls of rice are then passed by conveyor to a stone reel that aspirates the waste hulls and moves the rice to a machine that separates the hulled from the unhulled grains. Shaking the kernels pushes the heavier unhulled grains to one side and the lighter-weight rice to the other side of the machine.

Unhulled caryopses are then siphoned to another set of shelling machines to complete the hulling process.

Removal of seeds hulls, such as for example soybean hulls, traditionally is done by passing the seeds through cracking rolls to fracture the hulls and an aspirator is then used to separate the hulls from the cotyledons in the crushed soybeans.

Active ingredients according to the invention can be commercially available. Thus, for example, rice hulls can be commercially available by Agromil Cereali SrL, whilst soybean hulls can be commercially available by Cereal Doks SpA.

The Baits

Previously described rodenticides are produced in form of baits to be assimilated by the infesting rodent species. The baits are produced by combining a rodenticide with a component (carrier) having an attractant baiting effect.

The stronger the baiting effect and the tastiness of the baiting component, the higher the possibility of a successful result. Useful attractants according to the invention include water, cereal powders such as wheat flour, maize flour, malts flour, rice flour, rice bran powder, oat flour, oatmeal and the like, starches such as potato starch, maize starch and the like, sugars such as sucrose, dextrose, brown sugar that is sucrose sugar product with a distinctive brown color due to the presence of molasses. It is either an unrefined or partially refined soft sugar consisting of sugar crystals with some residual molasses content (natural brown sugar), or it is produced by the addition of molasses to refined white sugar (commercial brown sugar), maltose, arabinose, galactose, lactose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, maple syrup, coca cola syrup, invert sugars (Invertix), molasses, honey and the like, glycerol and the like.

Useful attractants include also sweeteners like sorbitol, mannitol, acesulfame, aspartame, cyclamates, maltitol, saccharin, sucralose, taumatine, neosperidine, steviol glycosides, neotame, acesulfame-aspartame salt, isomalt, lactitol, xylitol, erythritol, tecnosweet N3 (flavouring premixes combining high intensity natural sweeteners and sensory additives. It is a blend of natural extracts and polyols to increase sweetening power and the relative palatability commercially available by Tecnessenze s.r.l. Ca de Fabbri Minerbio Bologna Italy).

Proteins such as meat, meat extracts, milk powder, fish meat, chicken meat, fish extracts, sea food, sea food extracts, yeast, yeast extract and the like.

Fruits such as apple, apricot, banana, blackberry, cherry, currant, gooseberry, grapefruit, raspberry, strawberry (pure, syrup or extract).

Fats and oils such as vegetable oils from e.g. corn, olive, caraway, peanut, sesame oil, soy bean, sunflower, palm, wheat germ, animal derived fats and fish derived oils and the like.

Attractants may also include biscuit powder and the like and coconut pulp flour, coconut flakes.

Attractants which further may be mentioned by way of example are natural and artificial flavours such as liquorice flavour, banana flavour, peanut butter flavour, coconut flavour, onion flavour, milk flavour, butter flavour, cheese flavour, melon flavour, hazelnut flavour, cream flavour, brioche flavour, biscuit flavour, caramel flavour, vanilla flavour, cereal flavour, chocolate flavour, peach flavour, black cherry flavour, berries flavour, strawberry flavour, raspberry flavour, and poultry flavours, beef marrow flavour, fish flavour, sea food flavour, yeast flavour and the like.

The attractants can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more in any ratio.

In one embodiment of the invention attractants are soybean oil, starch, molasses, ice sugar, coconut pulp flour, coconut flavour or a mixture thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention attractants are corn starch, molasses, soybean oil, natural and artificial flavours, sweeteners or a mixture thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention attractants are corn starch, molasses, soybean oil or a mixture thereof. In a further embodiment of the invention attractants are corn starch, soybean oil or a mixture thereof.

Other substances such as preservatives, coloring, bitter, glidant, binder agents or a mixture thereof can be added.

Useful preservatives according to the invention include sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, calcium sorbate, acetic acid, potassium acetate, sodium acetate, calcium acetate, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).

In a further embodiment, the rodenticide bait according to the invention further comprises a preservative selected from sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, calcium sorbate, acetic acid, potassium acetate, sodium acetate, calcium acetate, BHT or a mixture thereof.

Coloring agents according to the invention include curcumine, riboflavin (vitamin B12), cochineal (carminic acid), chlorophyll, caramel E 150 a-b-c-d, beta carotene (pro-vitamin A), lutein, canthaxanthin, antocyanins, lycopene, beetroot red (betanin).

Bitter agents include denatonium benzoate.

In a further embodiment, the rodenticide bait according to the invention further comprises a coloring selected from curcumine, riboflavin (vitamin B12), cochineal (carminic acid), chlorophyll, caramel E 150 a-b-c-d, beta carotene (pro-vitamin A), lutein, canthaxanthin, antocyanins, lycopene, beetroot red (betanin) or a mixture thereof.

Binder agents according to the invention include sodium lignosulfonate, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, or water.

Specifically, water can be used during the pressing phase to improve the quality of pellet.

Glidant or lubricant agents according to the invention include calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, fumaric acid, glyceryl behenate, glyceryl palmitostearate or hydrogenated vegetable oil.

In a further embodiment, the rodenticide bait according to the invention further comprises a binder agent selected from lignosulfonate, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, or water or a mixture thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, soybean hulls or a mixture thereof, the attractant is corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners such as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate or water or a mixture thereof and the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, soybean hulls or a mixture thereof, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate or water or a mixture thereof, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, soybean hulls or a mixture thereof, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate or water or a mixture thereof, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, soybean hulls or a mixture thereof, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate or water or a mixture thereof, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is soybean hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners such as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is soybean hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is soybean hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is soybean hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water and the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid. In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the active ingredient is rise hulls, the attractant is selected from corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, sweeteners as saccharin, or a mixture thereof, the binder is sodium lignosulfonate and/or water, the preservative is BHT or sorbic acid and wherein the active ingredient is in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition

Different types of baits exist. Examples of useful baits according to the invention include Cereals, Flaked Baits, Pellets, Paraffinized baits, Gel Baits, Fat Baits or Paste baits.

In one embodiment of the invention the bait is a Pellet bait.

In one embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are oat flour, corn oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are oat flour, corn starch oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are oat flour, corn oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water. In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is sodium lignosulfonate.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is sodium lignosulfonate.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is soybean hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is sodium lignosulfonate.

In one embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are oat flour, corn oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are oat flour, corn oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are oat flour, corn oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water. In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water. In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is water.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is sodium lignosulfonate.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is sodium lignosulfonate.

In a further embodiment, the active ingredient is rice hulls in an amount from 90 to 99% by weight of the bait composition, the attractants are corn starch, soybean oil, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, coconut flakes, coconut flavour, the preservative is BHT and the binder is sodium lignosulfonate.

The baits according to the present invention can be used for controlling rodents, by placing them in locations where the rodents live, or through which they pass, either in the form of baits alone or by placing them into suitable containers.

Thus, in a further aspect, the invention provides a method for controlling rodents characterized in that, an effective amount of composition is applied to an area in which the rodents are liable to be found.

This invention also relates to a process for the preparation of baits.

Thus, for example, a process for producing a pellet bait comprises making composition comprising hulls of seeds or caryopses or a mixture thereof as active ingredients and attractants and adding, if required, a binder and or a glidant, then mixing all ingredients together to obtain a homogeneous dry and flowing powder, which is passed through an extruder to obtain pellets.

The following examples illustrate the invention without limiting the scope thereof.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 : preparation of a pellet bait for rodent control containing rice hull.

Step 1 : preparation of rice hull pre-mix. Rice hull was milled to obtain a fine and homogeneous flour. Rice hull flour, molasses and soybean oil, in the amount as provided in Table 1 , were mixed together for about 15 minutes in a mill to obtain a homogeneous, dry and flowing premix powder.

Step 2: preparation of powder to be pelletized

Cornstarch and sodium lignosulfonate, according to quantities described in Table 1 , were added in a ribbon mixer together with the premix powder containing rice hull. The compound was mixed for 1 hour, to obtain a homogeneous, dry and flowing powder.

Step 3: preparation of pellet

The powder of step 2 was passed through an extruder, to obtain pellets having a dimeter of 3 mm and length from 6 to 10 mm.

Table 1 provides the ingredients and function thereof in the pellet bait.

Table 1

Example 2: preparation of a pellet bait for rodent control containing soybean hull.

Step 1 : preparation of soybean hull pre-mix.

Soybean hull was milled to obtain a fine and homogeneous flour. Soybean hull flour, and soybean oil and molasses, in the amount as provided in Table 2, were mixed together for about 15 minutes in a mill to obtain a homogeneous, dry and flowing premix powder.

Step 2: preparation of powder to be pelletized

Calcium stearate, corn starch and sodium lignosulfonate, according to quantities described in Table 2, were added in a ribbon mixer together with the premix powder containing soybean hull. The compound was mixed for 1 hour, to obtain a homogeneous, dry and flowing powder.

Step 3: preparation of pellet

Table 2 provides the ingredients and function thereof in the pellet bait.

Table 2

Ingredients Function w/w% Soybean hull Active ingredient From 40 to 99

Soybean oil Attractant From 0.5 to 10

Calcium Stearate Glidant From 0.1 to 5

Corn Starch Attractant From 2 to 15

Molasses Attractant From 1 to 10

Sodium lignosulfonate Binder From 1 to 10

100,0

Example 3: preparation of a pellet bait for rodent control containing rice hull.

Step 1 : preparation of rice hull pre-mix.

Rice hull was milled to obtain a fine and homogeneous flour. Rice hull flour, and corn oil, in the amount as provided in Table 3, were mixed together for about 15 minutes in a mill to obtain a homogeneous, dry and flowing premix powder.

Step 2: preparation of powder to be pelletized

Oat flour, powdered sugar, dextrose, saccharin, fish extract and BHT, according to quantities described in Table 3, were added in a ribbon mixer together with the premix powder containing rice hull. The compound was mixed for 1 hour, to obtain a homogeneous, dry and flowing powder. Water was sprayed under mixing onto the compound in order to reach a relative humidity of 10% to 15%.

Step 3: preparation of pellet

The powder of step 2 passed through an extruder, to obtain pellets having a dimeter of 3 mm and length from 6 to 10 mm. In this step the compound can reach temperatures as high as 70-90°C, causing the evaporation of water which has been sprayed on top as a binder. This is not prejudicial to the good quality of the pellet.

Table 3 provides the ingredients and function thereof in the pellet bait.

Table 3

100

EFFICACY TESTS

Materials and Methods

A toxicological study was conducted in order to provide any information required for the evaluation of the test item efficacy after repeated administration.

Test Item

The test material consists of pellet prepared as described in Example 1 and Example 2.

Test Method

Specie: Mouse

Race: CD-I

No: 10 (10 treated)

Sex: 5 Males and 5 females

Weight range: Males: 22-24 g at the beginning of the

assay

Females: 22-23 g at the beginning of the

assay

Stabling: the animals were placed in transparent polycarbonate cages (33 x 14 x 13 (h) cm in size, they were divided by sex and treatment group:

Phase I (Pre-test):one animal/cage.

Phase II (Test): one animal/cage.

Phase III (Post-test observation): 3 or 5 animals/cage were put depending on the animal weight according to internal procedure.

The stabling rooms were lighted by fluorescent lamps and kept in alternate cycles of 12 hours' light and 12 hours' dark. Temperature and humidity were controlled by the air-conditioning plant and constantly monitored.

Feeding: the complete diet was supplied in two forms:

-Laboratory standard diet and Challenge diet: pelletized diet.

-Ground Laboratory standard diet: fragmented pelletized diet.

Watering: the animals had free access to purified water supplied by an automatic watering system during the post test phase. During the phases of pre-test and test were made available daily 100 ml of water for each animal.

Identification of the animals: the mice selected for the study were identified by means of indelible colour marks in different parts of the body.

No mark (B) 1 Head (T) 2

Back (D) 3

Tail (C) 4

Head Tail TC 5

The cages were identified with a tag.

Quarantine: before the purchased animals were used for the trial, they were kept in quarantine for five days. During the quarantine, the animals were monitored every day. At the end of the quarantine, they were subjected to a thorough examination to verify their suitability for the trial. Selection of the animals: the animals used in the study were randomly selected among those suitable which were available at the time of the study.

Preparation of the assay sample: the test item was used neat for animals.

Experimental design

The animals were used divided into two groups, each of 5 animals, as shown in the tables below. 10 mice (5 male and 5 female) were used.

Administration: the trial was divided into three experimental phases:

Phase I (Pre-test): approximately 15 grams of the ground laboratory standard diet were inserted in a feeding dish centrally in each cage. 24 hours after every administration, the residual food was removed, weighed and completely replaced. The treatment was repeated for three consecutive days.

Phase II (Test): approximately 15 grams of test material were inserted into a feeding dish centrally in each cage. 24 hours after every administration, the remaining test material were removed, weighed and completely replaced. The treatment was repeated for eight consecutive days. Phase III (Post-test observation): 3 or 5 study animals/cage were put together depending on the animal weight according to internal procedure and feed with standard laboratory diet.

All treated animals were observed daily for clinical symptoms for 14 days. The animals were weighted daily.

Measurements and Observations

The following observations were recorded daily on all study animals during the study:

• Body weight: during Phase I, Phase II, and in Phase III.

• Food consumption: during Phase I daily measurement of ground laboratory standard diet intake; during Phase II daily measurement of test item intake.

• Water consumption: during Phase I daily measurement of water intake; during Phase II daily measurement of water intake.

Clinical symptoms Phase II: clinical symptom, including any change in somatomotor activities, were recorded twice daily. Clinical observations:

general objective examination (G.O.E.);

evaluation of the major organic functions;

- evaluation of the tegument apparatus conditions;

evaluation of the mucosa conditions;

evaluation of the somatomotor activity and sensorial conditions.

Phase III: clinical symptom, including any change in somatomotor activities, were recorded daily. Clinical observations:

- general objective examination (G.O.E.);

evaluation of the major organic functions;

evaluation of the tegument apparatus conditions;

evaluation of the mucosa conditions;

evaluation of the somatomotor activity and sensorial conditions.

Interpretation of Results

Rodenticide mortality evaluation: percentage of mortality induced by the test substance. (<90% or≥90%)

Results

Mortality: 100% of treated mice died (see table 4 and 5 for Example 1 and table 6 and 7 for Example 2).

On the basis of the results obtained in compliance with the assay validity criteria of Technical Notes for Guidance on Product Evaluation Appendices to Chapter 7 Product Type 14 Efficacy Evaluation of Rodenticidal Biocidal Products, Example 1 and Example 2 cause 100% MORTALITY for mouse.

Animal symptomatology observed consisted in piloerection, abdominal pain and depressed sensorium.

Symptomatology of male and female mice after administration of the bait of Example 1 are provided in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.

First symptoms appeared on day 2 of the test (piloerection), whilst death for all animals occurred between day 4 and day 6 (3 males and 3 females on day 4, 2 males on day 5 and 2 females on day 6). All animals had a daily weight loss. Autoptic examination in all animals found severe gastric, small intestine and cecum hyperaemia. Additionally, gastric and intestinal contents appeared to be very dry. At the apex of the cecum there was also a severe enteritis.

Animal Symptomatology, male and female mice after administration of the bait of Example 2 are provided in Table 6 and Table 7 respectively.

First symptoms appeared on day 3 of the test (piloerection and abdominal pain), whilst death for all animals occurred between day 5 and day 8 (2 males and 3 females on day 5, 1 male on day 6, 1 female on day 7, 2 males and 1 female on day 8). All animals had a daily weight loss. Autoptic examination in all animals found severe enteritis at the level of small intestine and cecum.

Day 1 * 0 0 0 0 0

Day 2 2 2 2 0 2

Day 2* 2 2 2 0 2

Day 3 2 2 2 0 2

Day 3* 2 2 2,4 2 2

Day 4 2,4 death death 2 death

Day 4* 2,4 n.a. n.a. 2 n.a.

Day 5 death n.a. n.a. death n.a.

Day 5* n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 6 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 6* n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 7 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 7* n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8* n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Phase III Day 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 2 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 3 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 4 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 5 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 6 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 7 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 10 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 1 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 12 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 13 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 14 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

End Test n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

^*=second observation

Mortal ity% = 100

Symptoms: 0=no symptoms; 2=piloerection; 4=abdominal pain; 5=depressed sensorium; n.a.=not applicable

Day 2 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 3 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 4 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 5 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 6 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 7 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 10 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 1 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 12 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 13 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 14 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

End Test n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

^*=second observation

Mortal ity% = 100

Autoptic examination in all animals found severe gastric, small intestine and cecum hyperaemia. Additionally, gastric and intestinal contents appeared to be very dry. At the apex of the cecum there was also a severe enteritis.

Day 8 n.a. n.a. death n.a. death

Day 8* n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Phase III Day 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 2 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 3 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 4 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 5 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 6 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 7 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 10 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 1 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 12 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 13 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 14 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

End Test n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

^*=second observation

Mortal ity% = 100

Day 5 2 death death death 2

Day 5* 2 n.a. n.a. n.a. 2

Day 6 2,4 n.a. n.a. n.a. 2,4

Day 6* 2,4 n.a. n.a. n.a. 2,4

Day 7 2,4 n.a. n.a. n.a. Death

Day 7* 2,4,5 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8 death n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8* n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Phase III Day 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 2 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 3 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 4 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 5 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 6 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 7 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 8 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 10 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 1 1 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 12 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 13 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Day 14 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

End Test n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

^*=second observation

Mortal ity% = 100

Autoptic examination in all animals found severe enteritis at the level of small intestine and cecum.

The above description fully discloses the invention including preferred embodiments thereof. Modifications and improvements of the embodiments specifically disclosed herein are within the scope of the following claims. Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. Therefore, the Examples herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and not a limitation of the scope of the present invention in any way.

Claims

A rodenticide bait comprising hulls of seeds or caryopses or a mixture thereof as an active ingredient and attractants.

A rodenticide bait of claim 1 wherein the active ingredient consists of hulls of seeds or hulls of caryopses or a mixture thereof.

A bait as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the seed is selecting from soybean, lentil or a mixture thereof.

A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -3, wherein the caryopsis is selected from rice, wheat, barley, oat, emmer, millet or a mixture thereof.

A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -4, wherein the seed is selecting from soybean, lentil and caryopsis is selected from rice, wheat, barley, oat, emmer, millet or a mixture thereof.

6. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -5, wherein the hulls are rice hulls, soybean hulls or a mixture thereof.

7. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -6, wherein the hulls are rice hulls.

8. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -7, wherein the hulls are soybean hulls.

9. A bait as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 -8, wherein the attractant is corn starch, oat flour, molasses, powdered sugar, dextrose, soybean oil, corn oil, natural and artificial flavours such as yeast extract, fish extract, flake coconut, coconut flavour, or marrow flavour, saccharin, or a mixture thereof.

10. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -9, wherein the attractant is corn starch,

molasses, soybean oil or a mixture thereof.

1 1 . A bait as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 -10 further comprising by one or more

substances selected from preservatives, coloring, glidant, binder agents or mixtures thereof.

12. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -1 1 , wherein the amount of active ingredients is from 40 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

13. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -1 1 , wherein the amount of active ingredients is from 50 to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

14. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -1 1 , wherein the amount of active ingredient is from 70% to 95% by weight of the bait composition.

15. A bait claimed in anyone of claims 1 -1 1 , wherein the amount of active ingredients is from 80% to 99% by weight of the bait composition.

16. A bait as claimed in anyone of claims 1 -15, characterized in that it is a Cereals, Flaked Baits, Pellets, Paraffinized baits, Gel Baits, Fat Baits or Paste baits.

17. Use of hulls of seeds or hulls of caryopses or a mixture thereof according to anyone of claims 1 -15 for rodent disinfestation.

18. A method for controlling rodents characterized in that, an effective amount of

composition according to anyone of claims 1 to 15 is applied to an area in which the rodents are liable to be found.