Repellence test of spices (garlic, chili, and pepper) to rat (Rattus rattus diardii I.)

Abstract

Rat is wild animal that has been associated with human life, i.e. parasitism for causing harm to people, leads to disruption and damage, being vectors of human disease. Rat population must be controlled or managed, using both chemical and non-chemical methods. Aims of the study was to determine the effectiveness of garlic, chili, and pepper and its combination as a repellent agent against house rat. Results of this research can be used as a basis for developing a system of house rat control in settlement habitat. Repellence test was conduded in two methods, i.e. in the arena and in the cage. Materials used as a repellent were garlic, chili, and pepper. Each material was tested in a single, double, and triple in combination of all spices. Test animals used were 10 head of house rats that have undergone adaptation for one day. Test in arena used 5 rats and 5 other rats in the cage. Test in arena using a rectangular arena measuring 300 cm (L) x 100 cm (W) x 50 cm (H). The base of arena is made of plywood, the sides are made of thick zinc-coated board and the top is covered by a wire ram. Cage test made of aluminum measuring 40 cm (L) x 40 cm (W) x 50 cm (H) coated wire ram. Each replicates using two cages are placed opposite each other and connected by 400 cm plastic gutter pipe with a diameter of 10 cm. Analysis of variance used a completely randomized design with 7 treatments and 5 replications. Data process performed using the SAS program for Windows (Duncan test with a = 5%). Variables measured were daily grain consumption, the effectiveness of the repellent, and rats' body weight changes. In the arena, a mix of three ingredients was the most effective repellent, whereas in the cage garlic was the most effective. Pepper was not effective to repell rats. Body weight of rats in the cage and arena showed increased and decreased. The decrease in body weight showed that repellent treatment cause stress, even after rats were able to adapt to the environment.