Some properties of calciferol as a rodenticide

The potentiality of calciferol (alone and combined with warfarin) for the control of commensal rats and mice has been examined in the laboratory. Nearly all animals fed on 0.1% calciferol for 2 days died. Though illness usually reduced food intake after the first 24 hr. there was no sign of aversion to the poison at 0.1% - which is considered to be the lowest concentration suitable for use against Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus and Mus musculus in the field. There was some indication that resistance to warfarin in R. norvegicus may be correlated with susceptibility to calciferol. Toxicity tests with calciferol combined with warfarin indicated an additive effect between the compounds. No evidence for synergism was found however, although elsewhere there is some evidence for this.