PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A new mutation in mice has been discovered from samples taken in Philadelphia as researchers warn rodents are adapting to current poison control measures.
Hearing about mutant mice might conjure up thoughts of big, scary rodents lurking around the city. However, researchers say this mutation is helping mice — one of the most common household pests — survive eating poison by building resistance.
Rutgers University researchers found the majority of house mice sampled in Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C. and New Jersey contained mutations.
“70% of the mice contained at least one mutation that related to resistance,” said Dr. Changlu Wang, who indicated one new type of mouse mutation was discovered from Philadelphia’s rodent samples.
“Whether that mutation is very different from others, we don't know, but at least found that mutation potentially be related to the resistance.”
The study examined rats as well. They had fewer mutations than mice, but researchers said they had the same ability to adapt to poisons. Researchers also found samples found in Europe show more of a problem with mutation than the samples taken in the U.S.
“In Europe, we know they at least have 23 different kinds of mutations,” said Wang. “Here, we only found four mutations in the population.”
Wang recommends implementing non-toxic rodent control measures. Otherwise, he warns rodents will take longer to kill and their populations will grow.
