Barnes A M
Bull World Health Organ. 1975;52(4-6):669-76.
Rodent control strategies, techniques, and research needs in rural tropical environments are reviewed and discussed with special reference to Mastomys natalensis, the possible reservoir of Lassa fever in West Africa.Public health rodent problems are far more serious and widespread in rural tropical areas than in developed countries. In the latter, only the commensal rodents constitute a major problem, whereas in rural tropical areas, native semidomestic species also serve as disease reservoirs and sources of infection to man. The success of rodent control programmes in developed countries depends in large part on the willingness and ability of people and governments to spend relatively large sums on research and control, on an acquired intolerance of people to rats and disease, and on a substantial economic base. These prerequisites are not usually to be found in rural tropical areas. Consequently, the rodent control techniques and programme organizations of developed countries are not directly applicable to such areas, even though the principles are the same. For this reason, it is suggested that a well-funded, integrated research and control programme should be undertaken in a known Lassa fever area, stressing public education, personnel training, and environmental management as well as rodenticidal approaches.
本文回顾并讨论了热带农村环境中的啮齿动物控制策略、技术及研究需求，特别提及了南非多乳鼠，它可能是西非拉沙热的宿主。热带农村地区的公共卫生啮齿动物问题比发达国家更为严重和普遍。在发达国家，只有共生啮齿动物构成主要问题，而在热带农村地区，本地半驯化物种也充当疾病宿主和人类感染源。发达国家啮齿动物控制计划的成功很大程度上取决于人们和政府愿意并能够投入相对大量资金用于研究和控制，取决于人们对老鼠和疾病的后天不容忍，以及坚实的经济基础。这些先决条件在热带农村地区通常并不具备。因此，发达国家的啮齿动物控制技术和计划组织即使原则相同，也不能直接应用于这些地区。出于这个原因，建议在已知的拉沙热地区开展一项资金充足的综合研究与控制计划，强调公众教育、人员培训、环境管理以及灭鼠方法。
