TY - JOUR AU - Painter, John A. AU - Mølbak, Kåre AU - Sonne-Hansen, Jacob AU - Barrett, Tim AU - Wells, Joy G. AU - Tauxe, Robert V. T1 - Salmonella-based Rodenticides and Public Health T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2004 VL - 10 IS - 6 SP - 985 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Several countries still permit strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis, a leading cause of gastrointestinal illness in humans, to be used in rat baits. To assess the human health risk associated with such rat bait, we first reviewed historic data on health hazards associated with Ratin, a rodenticide that was used in Europe until the early 1960s. Ratin caused outbreaks of human illness, including several deaths. We then compared S. Enteritidis isolated from a current commercial product, Biorat, with S. Enteritidis from Ratin and found that the strains were both phage type 6a. Based on the similarity of the strains, currently available Salmonella-based rodenticides likely are as great a threat to public health as historic strains were. Health officials should be aware that the continued use of Salmonella-based rodenticides is a risk to public health and should take appropriate measures to prevent use in their jurisdictions. KW - Salmonella Infections KW - Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis KW - Rodenticides KW - Public Health KW - Zoonoses KW - Electrophoresis KW - Gel KW - Pulsed-Field DO - 10.3201/eid1006.030790 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/6/03-0790_article ER - End of Reference