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Zinc phosphide is a rodenticide that is used in agricultural, urban and industrial environments in México. After ingestion, it reacts with hydrochloric acid, hydrolyzing into phosphine. It causes cellular hypoxia via mitochondrial toxicity, resulting in multiple organ dysfunction and death. There is no antidote or specific treatment for zinc phosphide toxicity. We present the case of a 45-year-old female who ingested zinc phosphide with suicidal intent. On arrival at the emergency department, she had multisystemic disorders. Supportive care, decontamination and antidotal therapy were initiated. Subsequently, she evolved to clinical improvement with a resolution of the biochemical abnormalities of tissue hypoperfusion. She was discharged on day 7 without complications. In this review, we provide updated therapeutic options and discuss their specific pathophysiological basis.

ZCL is a growing threat in many rural areas of Iran which involves 17 out of 31 provinces. This study was conducted from April to November 2011 for evaluation of the efficacy of phostoxin and zinc phosphide against rodents. Rodent control operations were carried out using phostoxin and zinc phosphide. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the main vector density, an entomological survey was carried out. The effects of the operation on the disease incidence were also evaluated. After intervention, the reduction rate of rodent burrows was 32.68% in the village treated with phostoxin and 58.14% in the village treated with zinc phosphide. The number of rodent holes in the control area showed 6.66-fold increase at the end of the study. The incidence of the disease decreased to 19.23 and 11.40 in areas treated with phostoxin and zinc phosphide, respectively. A total of 4243 adult sandflies were collected and identified. The most common and dominant species was Phlebotomus papatasi. In the village treated with phostoxin, the density of P. papatasi in outdoors was lower than indoors. Nevertheless, the density of P. papatasi in the village treated with zinc phosphide was higher in outdoors. It is concluded that phostoxin is less effective and has low safety in comparison with zinc phosphide, so that this rodenticide can be used only in special situations such as lack or ineffective rodenticides and only in the colonies far from human and animal dwelling places in small scales.

Despite the periodic mouse plague outbreaks in Australia which largely occur due to favourable climatic conditions, their economic impacts remain understudied. To bridge this knowledge gap, the present study analysed the economic impacts of the 2021 mouse plague in New South Wales (Australia) among households, farms, and businesses/facilities. We further analysed the influence of selected cost parameters on mouse bait rebate claims by the farmers as well as the relative efficiency of the chemical mouse control options used by farmers to minimize avoidable crop yield losses. Our study found that the total direct cost of the 2021 mouse plague was A$ 100.62 million, with farmers bearing 67.10% of the total cost. It was also revealed that the type of farming influenced the likelihood of a farmer claiming or not claiming mouse bait rebate. The most efficient chemical mouse control option was the combination of anticoagulants used around buildings and zinc phosphide used in pastures and crops as it reduced avoidable crop yield losses more than each rodenticide when used independently. However, more research is required on how other variables may influence the efficiency of mouse control methods to forestall future outbreaks of mouse plagues and their associated economic impacts.

Rodent infestation on poultry farms incurs heavy economic losses to this industry by causing feed loss and disease introduction. Development and continuous improvement of rodents control techniques are vital to minimize and control the damages caused by rodents. Here, we test the feed preference of rodents for locally available and palatable food grains viz. millet (whole), wheat (cracked) and rice (broken) and taste additives namely whole egg (5%), eggshell (5%), peanut cracked (5%) and yeast (2%) that were offered mixed in millet-wheat (50:50 by wt.) bait. We tested the preferences of different food additives through a process of feed choice mechanism. We applied two different techniques to compare the preference of mixed feed baits, these techniques included no-choice with multiple choice feeding tests and paired choice with multiple choices feeding tests. The results indicated that consumption of bait with added whole egg was significantly higher (p > 0.05). Further test for its effectiveness as a carrier for rodenticides revealed 56%, 82% and 92%, reduction in rodent activities with zinc phosphide (2%), coumatetralyl (0.0375%) and Brodifacoum (0.005%) respectively. Our results point to a need on continuous improvement of feed baits by using different combinations to effectively control the rodent infestation.

The use of metal phosphides, particularly aluminum phosphide, poses a significant threat to human safety and results in high mortality rates. This study aimed to determine mortality patterns and predictive factors for acute zinc and aluminum phosphide poisoning cases that were admitted to Menoufia University Poison and Dependence Control Center from 2017 to 2021. Statistical analysis revealed that poisoning was more common among females (59.7%), aged between 10 and 20 years, and from rural regions. Most cases were students, and most poisonings were the result of suicidal intentions (78.6%). A new hybrid model named Bayesian Optimization-Relevance Vector Machine (BO-RVM) was proposed to forecast fatal poisoning. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 97%, with high positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) values of 100% and 96%, respectively. The sensitivity was 89.3%, while the specificity was 100%. The F1 score was 94.3%, indicating a good balance between precision and recall. These results suggest that the model performs well in identifying both positive and negative cases. Additionally, the BO-RVM model has a fast and accurate processing time of 379.9595 s, making it a promising tool for various applications. The study underscores the need for public health policies to restrict the availability and use of phosphides in Egypt and adopt effective treatment methods for phosphide-poisoned patients. Clinical suspicion, positive silver nitrate test for phosphine, and analysis of cholinesterase levels are useful in diagnosing metal phosphide poisoning, which can cause various symptoms.

This study was conducted in Farta district, south Gondar from 2019 to 2020 cropping years to identify rodent pest species and estimate damage caused on barley crops. Four independent barley crop fields (40 x 40 m each) were sampled randomly to estimate the loss. Two were located near Alemsaga Priority State Forest and the other two were away from the forest. Four (2 x 2 m) rodent exclusion plots were established at 10 m interval as control units in each selected experimental barley fields using fine wire mesh. Rodent pest species were collected using both Sherman and snap traps throughout the different crop growing stages. The damaged and undamaged barley tillers by pest rodents were counted on five 1 x 1 m randomly sampled quadrats for each selected experimental fields. Variations on pest rodent population between cropping years and sites were analyzed using Chi square test. The mean crop damages between cropping years and experimental field sites were analyzed using two way ANOVA. Arvicanthis abyssinicus , Mastomys natalensis , Arvicanthis dembeensis , Mus musculus , Lophuromys simensis , Tachyoryctes splendens and Hystrix cristata were identified as pest rodents in the study area. A total of 968 individual rodents (427 in 2019 and 541 in 2020) were trapped during the study period. There was a statistical variation (χ 2 = 13.42, df = 1 and P<0.05) between trapped individuals of the two successive years. The crop fields near the forest were more vulnerable than away from the forest during both cropping years. Statistical variations was observed on mean crop losses between cropping years and experimental barley crop sites. The highest crop damage was seen at maturity stage and the lowest during sowing in all experimental plots and cropping years. The percentage of barley yield loss due to rodent pests was 21.7 kg ha -1 . The monetary value of this yield loss was equivalent to 4875 Birr (121.9 US$ h -1 ). Alemsaga Forest as shelter and conservation strategies like free of farmland from livestock and terracing for soil conservation have great role for the high rodent pest populations in the study area. Field sanitation, trapping and using restricted rodenticides like zinc phosphide are the possible recommendation to local farmers against rodent pests.

Introduction The primary objective of this study was to compare the mortality rates and clinical severity of aluminum phosphide (AlP) versus zinc phosphide (ZnP) poisoning. The secondary objectives were to identify specific prognostic factors such as method of ingestion and clinical markers (hypotension, acidosis) and to describe the epidemiological profile of these cases in Khorramabad, Iran. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of 59 patients admitted for AlP or ZnP poisoning to Shahid Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad during 2021–2022. Data on demographic characteristics, poisoning details, clinical course, and outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, employing descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and independent t-tests. Results The majority of patients were male (52.5%), with a mean age of 30.12 ± 11.96 years. AlP poisoning accounted for 69.5% of cases, with a significantly higher mortality rate (29.3%) compared to ZnP, which had a single fatality. The method of ingestion was a critical prognostic factor for AlP; patients who consumed it without dissolving it in water had a markedly higher mortality rate (50%) than those who dissolved it first (6.7%). The development of hypotension ( P  < 0.001) and metabolic acidosis ( P  = 0.003) within the first 48 h were strongly associated with mortality in AlP poisoning. AlP poisoning accounted for 69.5% of cases, with a significantly higher mortality rate (29.3%) compared to ZnP, which had no fatalities (0%). The method of ingestion was a critical prognostic factor for AlP. Intensive care unit (ICU) admission was also a significant predictor of poor outcome. In contrast, no significant association was found between prognosis and gender, psychiatric history, physical form of the poison, or time to hospital presentation. Aluminum phosphide is significantly more lethal than zinc phosphide, largely due to its form, leading to internal phosphine gas release. The consumption method, along with the development of hypotension and metabolic acidosis, are crucial prognostic indicator for AlP poisoning. Conclusion These findings underscore the need for aggressive management of metabolic acidosis and hypotension. Stricter enforcement of pesticide sales bans, enhanced safety protocols to prevent accidental exposures, and further research on ZnP poisoning are strongly recommended.

Introduction Metallophosphide poisoning, mainly due to aluminum phosphide and zinc phosphide, is a growing public health problem in developing countries associated with a high mortality rate, including in Ethiopia, where it is used a fumigant for stored grains and agricultural commodities. Ethiopia lacks a well-organized poison control center, making it difficult to obtain primary data on metallophosphide poisoning cases and outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the pooled prevalence and mortality rate from metallophosphide poisoning in Ethiopia. Methods As of August 2024, PUBMED, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR were inclusively searched. Two independent reviewers extracted the data. Quality was assessed using the Modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies. A random effects model was used to obtain the pooled estimate of the prevalence of and mortality rate from metallophosphide poisoning. Results Fourteen studies with a sample size of 3218 were included in the final estimate. The pooled prevalence of metallophosphide poisoning in this systematic review and meta-analysis was 38% (95% CI: 0.14–0.71, I 2  = 96.6%, p < 0.0001). In the teen-included studies for the pooled mortality analysis, the sample size was 677 and the pooled mortality rate was 37% (95 % CI: 0.22, 0.55, I2 = 87.8%, P < 0.0001). Conclusion We found a high pooled prevalence of metallophosphide poisoning in Ethiopia. This highlights the urgent need for regulatory actions to restrict the sales and distribution of these substances. This is supported by international experiences from similar low-resource settings. We recommend safer alternatives to control insects and rodents, such as mechanical rodent controls and integrated pest management. Public awareness creation and enhancing local management protocols to reduce the burden and improve the outcome of metallophosphide poisoning.

A resetting toxin device (the “Spitfire”) has been designed that delivers a toxic paste to a rat’s ventral surface when it passes through a tunnel. The rat grooms off the paste and ingests the toxin. The system was assessed in cage trials and one field trial. The purpose of the cage trials was to investigate whether a range of toxins can be delivered by the Spitfire to rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), namely 0.55% sodium fluoroacetate (1080), 0.2% brodifacoum, 15% cholecalciferol, and 12.5% zinc phosphide. The trials with 1080, brodifacoum, and zinc phosphide were successful with > 85% of rats ingesting lethal doses. The trials with cholecalciferol were less successful with only 58% of rats dying. A one-month pilot field trial was undertaken using 1080 in the Spitfires. There was a knockdown in rat (and stoat Mustela erminea) abundance, establishing proof of concept for the Spitfire delivery system with this toxin. The long-term, effective control of introduced rats will require a range of toxins with different modes of action. The Spitfire could be a useful additional control tool for rats and is currently being re-engineered to be made more reliable.