Mass production and commercialization of Biological Rodenticide, Sarcocystis Singaporensis in Indonesia

Abstract

The protozoan Parasite, Sarcocystis Singaporensis, is known as effective biocontrol agent against rats in Southeast Asia. This parasite is highly host-specific using two hosts for maintaining its life cycle i.e. Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) and rats from the Genera Rattus and Bandicota. The parasite is mass-produced in live pythons after feeding them with rats which are infected with the parasite in laboratory. The aim of the present studies was to investigate the production capacity of reticulated python in producing S. singaporensis and its commercialization in Indonesia. Sample of pythons were pooled in three groups based on their length (50 pythons for each group), namely Small (1.5-2.5m), Medium (2.5-3.5m) and Big (>3,5m). All the pythons were fed with an infected rat every three months for a year. All the feces from the pythons were collected and extracted to determine the numbers of S. Singaporensis produced. The results showed that the Medium pythons produce the highest number of parasite up to 4.31 x 10 sporocyst per year; or 1.4 and 7.3 times more compared to those small and big pythons, respectively. Considering the lethal dose for killing one rat is 200,000 parasite, it was calculated that the average parasite produced by a single python during its keeping period (4 years) equal with 40,300 baits. The economic analysis showed that this mass production systems is profitable, thus feasible for scale up in certain conditions. However techniques and strategy in keeping the pythons in proper way is one of the most important factors to be considered. Furthermore, commercialization aspects of this biological Rodenticide in Indonesia will be discussed in presentation.