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In this report the results of the national study into rodenticide resistance in house mice and rats in the Netherlands are described. Between September and December 2021 a total of 2318 rodents were collected with the help of professional pest managers from all over the country. A total of 218 different postal code areas was sampled. This sample size provides a good and realistic overview of the current situation. There were 397 house mice (Mus musculus) collected (and 286 mice from different species), 1553 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), and 82 black rats (Rattus rattus). For the house mouse the test on Vkorc1 mutations at amino acid 139 resulted in 246 wild-type (62%), and 151 mice showed resistant (38%). For the brown rat 1476 of the 1553 samples gave a reaction. Of those 1476 rats, 1224 tested wild-type (83%) and 252 rats showed resistant (17%). In comparison to the study in 2012/2013, the percentage of resistant brown rats is lower (25% in 2012), but lies within the same range. Although the sample size and geographic spread of the rats tested in the previous study was somewhat limited, the new numbers could indicate a positive trend which might be due to more restricted and conscious use of rodenticides. Rodenticide resistance was found in a large part of the same regions as in the previous study, but also a few ‘new’ regions. This could be due to the fact that resistant rodents have spread, or/also because there were more samples collected with a larger geographic spread than in the earlier study. However, the 17% resistant brown rats is an average for the Netherlands, with clear differences between regions. Despite the fact that the numbers of 2012 were lower with a less balanced geographic sampling, comparison of the results could indicate a positive trend of a decrease in rodenticide resistance in rats. Results of the house mouse are not comparable to previous studies as there are none. Nonetheless the number of rodenticide resistant mice in the Netherlands, Dit rapport beschrijft een landelijk en kwantitatief onderzoek naar resistentie bij ratten en huismuizen tegen rodenticiden op basis van anticoagulanten. Deze middelen worden gebruikt bij de bestrijding van ratten en muizen en resistentie tegen deze biociden is een groot probleem. Samen met professionele plaagdierbeheersers zijn tussen september en december 2021 in totaal 2318 knaagdiermonsters verzameld, afkomstig uit 218 verschillende driecijferige postcodegebieden. De samenstelling van de knaagdiermonsters bestond uit 1553 bruine ratten, 397 huismuizen, 286 andere muizensoorten en 82 zwarte ratten. Hiermee kan, met name voor bruine ratten en huismuizen, een goede inschatting worden gemaakt van de actuele landelijke situatie met betrekking tot resistentie tegen rodenticiden. Een groot deel van de mogelijke vormen van genetische resistentie vindt zijn oorsprong in mutaties in het Vkorc1-gen, een gen dat codeert voor het eiwit waarop anticoagulanten aangrijpen. Met name mutaties die zorgen voor een verandering van aminozuur 139 leiden tot resistentie. Bij de test op Vkorc1-mutaties op aminozuur 139 werd bij 62% van de huismuizen geen resistentie waargenomen (n=246) en bij 151 dieren werd wel resistentie waargenomen (38%). Bij de bruine rat gaven 1476 van de 1553 monsters een signaal in de resistentietest (95%) met daarbij een verdeling van 83% niet-resistente en 17% resistente dieren (n=1476). De zwarte rat-monsters zijn niet meegenomen in de analyse omdat met moleculaire tests voor soortidentificatie niet met zekerheid vastgesteld kon worden dat het ook daadwerkelijk zwarte ratten waren. In vergelijking met een eerder resistentieonderzoek bij de bruine rat (2012/2013) is het percentage resistente dieren lager, maar het ligt wel in dezelfde range: in 2012 was 25% van de bruine ratten resistent. Ook nu werd de resistentie voor een groot deel gevonden in regio’s waar eerder ook resistentie werd aangetroffen, al blijkt uit het huidige onderzoek dat resistentie in meer

In this report, it was explored using the ''KringloopToets'' what happens when European countries no longer import animal feed and raw materials from outside Europe. This report combines a) the analysis made by a group of stakeholders (industry, governments and NGOs) in a series of workshops and b) the calculation of response scenarios that resulted from this. The substantive results can be found in the extensive summary elsewhere in the report. The results of this study can help sector, governments and NGOs to have a discussion about how they can achieve the intended cycle goals together, in a way that does not unnecessarily affect the vitality of plant and animal production. The results of this study provide a basis for this conversation., In deze rapportage is met behulp van de KringloopToets verkend, wat er gebeurt wanneer Europese landen geen veevoer en veevoergrondstoffen meer van buiten Europa importeren. Deze rapportage combineert a) de analyse die een groep stakeholders (bedrijfsleven, overheden en ngo’s) heeft gemaakt in een serie workshops, en b) de doorrekening van responsscenario’s die daaruit voortkwamen. De inhoudelijke resultaten kunt u vinden in de uitgebreide samenvatting elders in het rapport. De resultaten van deze studie kunnen sector, overheden en Ngo’s helpen om het gesprek te voeren, hoe zij samen de beoogde kringloopdoelen kunnen realiseren, op een manier die de vitaliteit van de plantaardige en dierlijke productie niet onnodig raakt. De resultaten van deze studie leggen een basis voor dit gesprek.

In this report an answer is formulated to the question: what should be taken into account if you want to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the animal production chain? It builds on an exploration where the KringloopToets (Nutrient Cycle Assessment Tool) was applied, in which a diverse group of stakeholders have put together portfolios of solutions with the help of expert knowledge. Consecutively, the most important knowledge input that wat used, the design process steps that were followed, and the most considerable insights that were gained, are discussed., In deze rapportage wordt een antwoord geformuleerd op de vraag: waar moet je rekening mee houden wanneer je de carbon footprint van de dierlijke productieketen fors wilt reduceren? Daarbij wordt voortgebouwd op een verkenning met de KringloopToets, waarbij een diverse groep stakeholders met hulp van expertkennis oplossingenportfolio’s hebben samengesteld. Achtereenvolgens wordt ingegaan op de belangrijkste kennisinput die gebruikt is, de ontwerpende processtappen die doorlopen zijn, en de belangrijkste inzichten die zijn opgedaan.

Recent is een interessant artikel verschenen in het wetenschappelijk tijdschrift Biology Letters. De auteurs, Maureen Murray en Cecilia Sánchez, beschrijven daarin een onderzoek dat zij hebben uitgevoerd naar de rattenpopulatie in Chicago (Verenigde Staten).

Rodents represent the largest order of mammals (>40%) and consist of over 2000 species. However, only a small portion (<10%) of all rodent species can be referred to as pest species. There is a knowledge gap on the biology and habitat specialisations and distribution of many rodent species in Asia and in Europe, which is essential for the species-specific management of pest rodents. The main aim of this thesis was to obtain more knowledge about rodent-borne health risks in farming systems in both Europe and Asia. The chapters of this thesis describe several studies into rodents from the Netherlands and Bangladesh in order to find an answer to the main research question of this thesis.In this thesis, for both countries rodent presence is demonstrated, as well of the presence of zoonotic pathogens in these animals. It can be concluded that there are serious rodent-borne health risks in farming systems in both in the Netherlands and in Bangladesh. The results of this thesis may help to improve the preparedness for potential disease outbreaks. It is essential to gain a more thorough understanding of the ecology of rodent-borne pathogens in rodents and humans in order to determine the public health risks associated with commensal rodents.

With wild rodents and insectivores being present around humans and their living, working and food production environments, it is important to gain knowledge of the zoonotic pathogens present in these animals. The enteropathogen Clostridium difficile, an opportunistic anaerobic bacteria, can be carried by both animals and humans, and is distributed globally. It is known that there is genetic overlap between human and animal sources of C. difficile. In this study, the aim was to assess the presence of C. difficile in rodents and insectivores trapped on and around pig and cattle farms in the Netherlands. In total 347 rodents and insectivores (10 different species) were trapped and 39·2% tested positive for presence of C. difficile. For all positive samples the ribotype (RT) was determined, and in total there were 13 different RTs found (in descending order of frequency: 057, 010, 029, 005, 073, 078, 015, 035, 454, 014, 058, 062, 087). Six of the RTs isolated from rodents and insectivores are known to be associated with human C. difficile infection; RT005, RT010, RT014, RT015, RT078 and RT087. The presence of rodents and insectivores in and around food production buildings (e.g. farms) could contribute to the spread of C. difficile in the human environment. In order to enable on-farm management for pathogen control, it is essential to comprehend the role of wild rodents and insectivores that could potentially affect the ecology of disease agents on farms. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study shows that rodents and insectivores in and around food production buildings (e.g. farms) can carry Clostridium difficile ribotypes associated with human C. difficile infection (CDI). C. difficile spores in rodent and insectivore droppings are able to survive in the environment for prolonged periods, leading to host-to-host exposure and transmission. Therefore we can state that rodent and insectivore presence on farms is a risk for zoonotic pathogen transmission of C. dif

Deze studie vergelijkt de prestaties van gangbare en biologische landbouw- en veehouderijsystemen in Nederland op klimaatgebied. Er is een meta-analyse uitgevoerd naar verschillende bestaande vergelijkende studies en verschillen zijn geduid door onderscheidende factoren te noemen---This study compares the environmental performance of conventional and organic agricultural and livestock farming systems in the Netherlands concerning greenhouse gas emissions. A meta-analysis has been carried out into several existing comparative studies and differences have been identified by mentioning differentiating factors

In order to manage Eospalax (Myospalax) baileyi (Plateau zokors) pests with physical method, the efficacy of four different arrow traps was tested to control the plateau zokor in Sichuan Northwest Prairie, China. Population densities of 39.7-42.1 ha-1 were found in the test plots. Such densities require control measures since pasture damages and economic losses are huge. Traps differed in trigger rates, from 83.8% (three-Arrow type), 93.8% (infrared type), 93.9% (T-Type), to 94.3% (onearrow type). Capture rates ranged from 84.1 (three-Arrow type), 91.8% (infrared type), 93.7% (Ttype) to 93.8% (one-Arrow type). The single-Arrow trap has the highest efficacy and is also the cheapest, which is important knowledge for zokor control in western China.

For integrated pest management (IPM) programs to be maximally effective, monitoring of the growth and decline of the pest populations is essential. Here, we present the validation results of a new automated monitoring device for the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae), a serious pest in laying hen facilities world-wide. This monitoring device (called an "automated mite counter") was validated in experimental laying hen cages with live birds and a growing population of D. gallinae. This validation study resulted in 17 data points of 'number of mites counted' by the automated mite counter and the 'number of mites present' in the experimental laying hen cages. The study demonstrated that the automated mite counter was able to track the D. gallinae population effectively. A wider evaluation showed that this automated mite counter can become a useful tool in IPM of D. gallinae in laying hen facilities.