How can rats infect humans? - briefly
Rats spread disease by contaminating food, water, and surfaces with urine, feces, saliva, or by transmitting fleas and mites that carry pathogens. Human infections include leptospirosis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, salmonellosis, and plague.
How can rats infect humans? - in detail
Rats transmit pathogens to people through several well‑documented routes. Direct contact with rodent saliva, urine, or feces can introduce infectious agents. Bites or scratches allow bacteria such as Streptobacillus moniliformis (rat‑bite fever) to enter the bloodstream. Contaminated surfaces become sources of infection when hands are not washed before eating or handling food.
Food and water contamination occurs when rodents gnaw containers, spill waste, or excrete waste onto supplies. Consuming such tainted items can cause illnesses including salmonellosis, leptospirosis, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by hantaviruses. Aerosolized particles generated from dried urine or feces present a risk for inhalation, leading to pulmonary forms of hantavirus infection.
Ectoparasites that feed on rats serve as vectors for additional diseases. Fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) transmit Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague. Mites (Ornithonyssus bacoti) can carry rickettsial organisms, while ticks may acquire pathogens from rodent hosts and subsequently bite humans.
Key pathogens associated with rodents include:
- Leptospira spp. – causes leptospirosis; transmitted via contact with contaminated water or soil.
- Hantavirus spp. – leads to HFRS or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta.
- Salmonella spp. – results in salmonellosis; ingestion of contaminated food.
- Yersinia pestis – responsible for plague; flea bites after rodent infestation.
- Streptobacillus moniliformis – causes rat‑bite fever; entry through wounds.
Preventive measures focus on exclusion, sanitation, and control. Seal entry points, store food in rodent‑proof containers, and maintain clean environments to reduce attractants. Use traps or professional pest‑management services to lower rodent populations. Personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks, should be worn when cleaning areas with visible rodent activity. Regular handwashing after any potential exposure minimizes the risk of disease transmission.