Effect of Yellow oleander (Thevetia neriifolia Tuss.) Seed powder on Hematology and Serum biochemistry in wild female African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus W.)

Rodents are known to cause economic damage to crops. One of the most destructive rodent pest species known is African giant rat (AGR). Controlling them with chemicals usually causes environmental pollution due to residues of the chemical used. Thevetia neriifolia seed has been discovered to have rodenticidal potential in the laboratory rodents. However, its humaneness as a rodenticide has not been evaluated in wild rodent species. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating effect of Thevetia neriifolia seed powder on hematology and serum biochemistry in wild female AGR. Twenty wild female AGR were acclimatized for 4 weeks and randomly allocated into 4 groups (A, B, C, and D) (5 animals/group) including control. The T. neriifolia seed was sundried, blended into powder, and mixed with commercial feed at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 0% (control), and then turned into pellet. The formulated feeds were administered to the animals for 8 weeks. At termination, the blood samples of the animals were collected for hematology and serum biochemistry analysis. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and means separated using DMRT at significance level of 0.05. The results showed no behavioral changes between treated group and control. All the hematological parameters showed no significant difference except red blood cell and haemoglobin. There was significant difference in Na+, HCO3-, urea, and albumin among the groups compared with the control (p < 0.05). Thevetia neriifolia seed powder did not seriously affect the hematology and serum biochemistry of the wild female AGR within the exposure time.