Rodenticides as the basis of deratisation: general characteristics, classification, mechanisms of action, features of application and prospects (review of literature data)

The aim of work is to analyze the current state of the use of rodenticides to control rodents in various areas of human activity, as well as prospects for improving rodenticides. Materials and methods of research: bibliosemantic, bibliographic and analytical methods of research. The research materials were foreign research articles. Research results and discussion. Various methods are used around the world to directly control rodent populations or reduce the damage caused by them. These methods include physical (traps, barriers), chemical (toxic baits, fumigants, repellents), biological/cultural (resistant plants, crop type, sanitation, habitat manipulation). The use of chemicals for rodent control has been practiced for almost a century and is common today. Most rodenticides used today are anticoagulants, which prevent blood clotting. The biological effectiveness of rodent control is determined not only by the toxicity of the rodenticide drug, but also by many other conditions that are closely related to the biological characteristics of the development of rodents. All rodenticides are enteric drugs. The mechanism of toxic effects of drugs in this group is different and is determined by the active substances on the basis of which they are made. The article presents various approaches to the classification of rodenticides and describes the ways of their impact on target and non-target animal species. The risk and toxicity of the most commonly used rodenticides, which have different chemical compositions and can have a wide range of clinical manifestations, are also assessed. The amount of bait that constitutes a lethal dose depends on the toxicity of the poison and the severity of the person. Conclusion: among the prospects for the further use of rodenticides, the leading place is occupied by the development of an “ideal rodenticide”, highly toxic to rodents in small quantities, non-toxic to non-target species and allows to avoid fear of the bait in rodents and, accordingly, rejection of it.