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Microbial degradation, compared with many other degradation processes, is the most important pathway for the depletion of triazine herbicides in soil. The aim of this study was to determine the growth potential of Pseudomonas sp. CY in the presence of atrazine and additional carbon (sodium citrate) and nitrogen (ammonium-nitrate) sources. The experiment was performed with five treatments: i) 100 mg/L atrazine (control); ii) One hundred mg/L atrazine + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v); iii) One hundred mg/L atrazine + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v) + ammonium nitrate (0.6 %, w/v); iv) Atrazine (300 mg/L) + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v) and v) Atrazine (500 mg/L) + sodium citrate (0.3 %, w/v). The bacterial count was determined after incubation (7 days at 30°C) using the agar plate method, while atrazine degradation was determined by measuring the optical density at 221 nm. Pseudomonas sp. CY can partially utilize atrazine as the sole source of carbon and energy. The highest values of the bacterial count were determined at the highest initial atrazine concentrations; however, bacterial growth was not detected in these treatments. A significant impact of citrate on bacterial growth and atrazine degradation was observed, while the addition of nitrate decreased the atrazine degradation rate. This study confirmed that Pseudomonas sp. CY can be used as a prominent candidate for the remediation of atrazine-affected environments.

Unrestricted use of anticoagulants has resulted in rodents developing resistance to them. This has caused a series of problems regarding reduction in rodent populations, which has further implicated great economic losses and a serious threat to the health of people and domestic animals. The popular global trend currently is to control rodent populations by applying the least possible amounts of chemicals, which on the other hand implies that several coactive alternative measures need to be applied in an eff ort to reduce rodent numbers to an acceptable economic level. On the other hand, knowledge of the genetic structure of rodent populations has become an important set of information desirable to have before setting off to apply rodenticides in practice, so as to prevent ineffective use of rodenticides and prevent further spreading of resistant rodent populations. The latest trend of using combinations of low-dose anticoagulant baits requires further research as their effects on susceptible populations are known but their impact on resistant animals is still not clear.

The effects of 0.75 % concentration of cinnamon essential oil on bait attractiveness and total biological efficacy of bromadiolone and difenacoum rodenticides to the house mouse were tested in practice. The experiments were conducted in storages with stable house mouse populations for which no resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides had been previously reported. A statistically significant difference was detected between bromadiolone and difenacoum baits. Consumption of bromadiolone baits supplemented with cinnamon essential oil was 74 % higher than the consumption of bromadiolone baits without cinnamon oil. The average efficacy of bromadiolone baits in controlling house mice was 96 %. Cinnamon essential oil added to difenacoum baits increased bait consumption by 39 %, i.e. it was 119 % higher than the consumption of oil-free baits. The average efficacy of difenacoum baits in controlling house mice was 99.5 %.

The effect of cinnamon (Cinnamomi zeylanicum) and clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) essential oils on the acceptibility of cereal-based baits to house mice in storage facilities was examined. The effects of three concentrations, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 %, were tested for optimization purposes. The experiments were performed in a mill storage, and in another storage for seeds and seedlings. Attractiveness of the examined concentrations of cinnamon and clove essential oils was statistically significant, compared to placebo bait, within seven days of the experiment. On the seventh day, the average consumption of baits containing 0.75 % and 1 % concentrations of cinnamon oil was 46 % in the mill storage, i.e. 35.5 % more than placebo baits were consumed. Fourteen days after the beginning of the experiment, no significant difference was detected in the consumption of baits offered in the mill storage. On the other hand, a significant difference was revealed regarding the consumption of examined baits in the seed and seedling storage. The average consumption of baits containing 0.75 % and 1 % cinnamon oil was 47 % and 51 % higher after 14 days than the consumption of placebo bait. Compared to the other test baits, those containing cinnamon essential oil at 0.75 % and 1 % concentration demonstrated better attractiveness without mutual statistically significant differences.

The paper presents the first data on slug mites Riccardoella (Riccardoella) limacum (Schrank) and R. (Proriccardoella) oudemansiThor (Acari: Ereynetidae) in Serbia. The two parasitic species were detected on seven species of snails and slugs (Gastropoda, Pulmonata) in Serbia. Riccardoella limacum, which is a specialized snail parasite, was found in Helixpomatia L. and H. lucorum L species of the family Helicidae. Riccardoella oudemansi was found exclusively on slug species: Arion lusitanicus Mabille (Arionidae), Tandonia budapestensis (Hazay) (Milacidae), Limacus flavus (L.), Limax maximus L. and L. cinereoniger Wolf (Limacidae).

We examined the acceptance and palatability of baits containing different contents of sodium selenite as a rodenticide, in Swiss mice under laboratory conditions. In a no-choice and choice feeding test, the animals were exposed to baits containing 0.1, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.0125% of sodium selenite. The total bait consumption by Swiss mice in the no-choice feeding test was highly negatively correlated, while total sodium selenite intake was medium-positively correlated to the sodium selenite content in the bait. In the same test, daily intakes significantly depended on the content of sodium selenite in the bait, while the exposure and associated interactions of contents of sodium selenite and exposure had no statistically significant impact. Baits with sodium selenite contents of 0.05 and 0.1% had the most lethal effects. The negative impact of the sodium selenite content on bait acceptance and palatability was confirmed in choice feeding tests. Baits containing 0.05 and 0.1% of sodium selenite displayed the biological potential to be used as a rodenticide. It is necessary to improve its insufficient acceptability and palatability by adding adequate additives to the bait. The results of this study should be verified in experiments with wild rodents. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 46008 i br. OI 173039]

Analysis of biosecurity indicators at critical control points intend to prevent undesirable infections in technological chains of production. Product quality is the basis for defining a biosecurity plan under the HACCP concept. General and specific biosecurity measures developed to prevent introductions of infective materials have been at the focus of attention in Serbia in recent years. The house mouse (Mus musculus L.) is usually accused for transferring pathogens into objects. The possibility of internal infections can be reduced by removing food sources and discovering their hiding places. The adaptability of Mus musculus to various conditions has affected the search for alternatives of their control. The objective of our research was to analyze the most important indicators of biosecurity and presence of Mus musculus, the 'cause-andconsequence' characteristics and mice control by environmentally safe substances in facilities with different technological processes. Method of questionnaire was used to define written biosecurity plan, isolation of objects, control of movement and for traffic visitors. Hygiene evaluation, i.e. mechanized cleaning, sanitary washing, facility disinfection, ventilation and facility sanitation, was performed visually. The biosecurity and wellbeing of animals were evaluated by the parameters: animal hygienic conditions of rearing, forage stocks, animal biosecurity and removal of animal carcasses. Longworth traps were used for mice trapping and determination of critical control points. The efficacy of sodium selenite was found in our study to range from 71.4% to 88.8% and it provided a good alternative for Mus musculus control in different production units because it does not interfere with technological production processes within facilities or cause animal resistance. Biosecurity measures need to be implemented using clear instructions in order to reduce biorisks and increase product safety.

In order to compare the efficacies of conventional (cholecalciferol and bromadiolone) and new (sodium selenite) rodenticides, applied in the grain bait formulation on the whole-grain of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and triticale (Triticasecale) in alfalfa crops, experiments were conducted at two sites near Belgrade, Serbia, in the spring of 2009, using a standard EPPO method. The presence of rodent populations, their spatial distribution and density indices were evaluated by pretreatment census and rodenticide efficacy by counting active holes, 14 and 28 days after treatment. The average Microtus arvalis numbers of 158/ha and 184/ha were found to cause 7.4% and 9.6% alfalfa green biomass yield decreases, respectively. Twenty-eight days after treatment, the average efficacy of grain bait formulation (on wheat and triticale grains) of sodium selenite and cholecalciferol was 81%, while bromadiolone which had a higher efficiency, 85%, in the control of the common vole in alfalfa crops. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the origin of active substances, bases and associated interactions a.s x based on the efficacy-investigated grain baits did not have a statistically significant impact on the expression efficiency of the tested baits. Triticale grains can be used as carriers of active substances, sodium selenite, cholecalciferol or bromadiolone in preparation baits. Control of M. arvalis with the new rodenticide, sodium selenite, gave efficacy results about equal to that of cholecalciferol and bromadiolone and, therefore, provided a possible alternative rodenticide for vole control in alfalfa.

Management of commensal rodents using environmentally safe methods is a current trend in the scientific community. Data provided by the World Health Organization and various sanitation and epidemiological services have shown that rodents destroy around 33 million tons of food intended for human nourishment every year. Continued use of chemical rodenticides over a number of years is known to provoke resistance and cause non-target poisoning of animals and people, as well as environmental pollution. This should be prevented by timely redirection to the available methods that are environmentally safe. Several years of our research of the efficacy of different formulations of an environmentally safe product based on sodium selenite (0.1%) in various livestock facilities and food storages have traced a path for environmentally safe management of commensal rodents. Tests have been conducted on populations of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and house mouse (Mus musculus). Rodent numbers were assessed according to EPPO methodology. Product rations of 10-30 g for the mouse and 50-100 g for the rat were offered to rodents in bait boxes. Our data show that baits ready for use (RB) had the highest efficacy of 99% and 96.5% in controlling Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus, respectively. In some experiments, however, sodium selenite baits had unsatisfactory efficacy. No accidental poisoning of non-target organisms was recorded in any trial. The results of this research give us a better insight into possibilities for using sodium selenite as an environmentally safe rodenticide on livestock farms and in food storages.

House mouse, black and grey rat are the most important pest rodents in storage facilities and cause a 5% loss of the overall world food production. Control of rodent number in agricultural storage facilities is undertaken only after its presence has been registered. Preparations used to control rodents need to meet palatability requirements, i.e. stimulate rodents to choose baits rather than food available in abundance. Experiments were conducted in Omoljica mills and Starčevo storage facilities following the standard EPPO method. Palatability and efficacy of RB formulated baits containing bromadiolone and brodifacoum as active substances were tested against the house mouse in wheat mills and flour packaging and storing buildings and the Norway rat around mills and food storage facilities. Palatability and efficacy was calculated according to Abbott's formula. The results showed that palatability and efficacy of RB soft bag formulations (96-100%) was substantially high especially of brodifacoum-based baits.

After the vkorc1 gene was first identified, changes occurring in the gene have been considered one of the main reasons of reduced susceptibility of house mice to anticoagulants. A no-choice feeding test was conducted according to standard EPPO (2004) methodology. Animals were fed for 21 days on baits containing difenacoum 0.005%. All animals were bromadiolone-resistant. Seven months earlier, all test animals had survived a 21-day bromadiolone (0.005%) no-choice feeding test, and sequencing of their vkorc1 gene had revealed the presence of Tyr139Cys and Leu1258Ser/Tyr139Cys VKOR variant. There were no survivors in the no-choice difenacoum feeding test. Consumption was not affected by VKOR variant, sex or genotype. A higher lethal dose was confirmed for Leu128Ser/Tyr139Cys than Tyr139Cys carriers, for females than males, and for homozygotes than heterozygotes. Our research showed that difenacoum 0.005% was effective against house mice carrying the Tyr139Cys VKOR variant, whether it occurred independently or in combination with the Leu128Ser variant in the Vkorc1 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During any forest renewal process, human activity disturbs forest ecosystems and creates conditions for development of certain species of rodents. At the beginning of recovery process in forest areas, sources of seed material or herbaceous plant cover rich in nutrients are readily available, favoring populations of small rodents, especially mice and voles. We tested the effectiveness of a preparation based on the active ingredient difenacoum for applications in forests under rodent infestation category four. The rodenticide Ratak Forst, difenacoum (0.005%), a granular bait GB, was tested in comparison with a pellet formulation of BRODISAN-A, bromadiolone (0.005%). The experiments were performed according to EPPO Standards (2004) methodology, in a randomized complete block design with four replications at two locations. Plot size was 20x20 m2. Baits were laid in amount of 30 g (one bag) per commercial plastic box. One hundred and five boxes were installed per plot, i.e. a total of 420 boxes per preparation. The results show that the tested Ratak Forst (76.46%) and the standard preparation BRODISAN-A (79.85%) had very good efficacy in controlling rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND After reports of management problems in practice, a survey was conducted to determine the presence of bromadiolone-resistant animals in different house mouse ( Mus musculus L.) populations in Serbia. A 21 day no-choice feeding test was carried out to examine the resistance of house mice to bromadiolone. Eighty house mice collected from four locations (ten males and ten females per location) were tested for bromadiolone tolerance. Surviving animals and their F1 offspring were screened for mutations. The influence of VKOR variant, zygosity and sex on bromadiolone tolerance was analysed. RESULTS Bait intake and changes in body weight revealed different animal responses regarding susceptibility or resistance. Leu128Ser, Tyr139Cys and a new Ala21Thr polymorphism were detected in wild-born survivors and their F1 generation. However, not every individual with the polymorphisms Leu128Ser and Tyr139Cys survived the feeding test. VKOR variants and sex caused variations in bromadiolone tolerance. CONCLUSION For the first time it was shown that the VKOR variant, along with sex, is responsible for bromadiolone tolerance in house mice. Other factors influencing bromadiolone tolerance, including sex-specific factors, cannot be excluded. The tolerance levels of VKOR variants should be determined in further studies in order to evaluate the effectiveness of bromadiolone in sustainable management. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Pesticides & Phytomedicine / Pesticidi i Fitomedicina is the property of Institute of Pesticides & Environmental Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pesticides & Phytomedicine / Pesticidi i Fitomedicina is the property of Institute of Pesticides & Environmental Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)