Does streptobacillary arthritis reduce house mouse population density,activity and damage to sorghum crops? |
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Authors: | Shahram Kaboodvandpour Luke K-P Leung |
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Institution: | (1) School of Animal Studies, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia |
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Abstract: | An experiment to examine the effect of streptobacillary arthritis on mouse populations was conducted in maturing sorghum crops
in mouse-proofed pens. There were three treatment pens and three control pens in which mice with and without clinical signs
of streptobacillary arthritis were introduced, respectively. A constant mouse density (533 mice ha−1) was introduced to the pens by releasing 12 mice in each pen. The sex ratio of introduced mice was also constant by releasing
in each pen nine males and three females. Mean track index was lower in treatment pens than in control pens, indicating that
streptobacillary arthritis reduced the activity of mice. However, this was not translated into a reduction in other population
responses. Mean mouse density at harvest, percentage of female pregnant at harvest, yield loss caused by mice and a feeding
index (oil card index) did not differ significantly between treatment and control groups. A plausible explanation for these
findings was that mice with the clinical signs might be less active but were able to consume as much grains as mice without
the clinical signs because food was in abundant supply. |
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Keywords: | Sorghum crops House mice Streptobacillary arthritis Yield loss Activity Streptobacillus moniliformis |
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