Bait bases for Mastomys natalensis Smith 1834: a murid of public health interest in Africa.

Mastomys natalensis is widely distributed in the whole of Africa and is a reservoir of important zoonoses including plague. In order to control this species efficiently using rodenticides, tests were carried out to find the most preferred cereal and bait additives to form a suitable bait base. Investigations were based on food choice tests in caged animals. Among the cereals tested, rice was significantly preferred (P=0.01) followed by wheat, sorghum and maize. Of the additives tested, both sexes of M. natalensis significantly preferred baits containing either 1,3 and 5% sucrose (p=0.05), or 3 and 5% glycerine, or 3% fish, or 1% sucrose. Also both sexes rejected bait containing 1 and 3% molasses. Additives such as 1% glycerine, 1 and 3% groundnut did not significantly influence bait intake. Sex preference differential was observed on baits containing 1 and 5% fish, 1 and 5% groundnut, 5% cotton oil, 5% cod liver oil and 0.5% salt. It was concluded that bait additives which scored 70% or more should be considered suitable for M. natalensis bait. However further studies are recommended on this subject.