How do mice transmit mouse fever? - briefly
Mouse fever spreads mainly through direct contact with infected rodent urine, saliva, or feces and via bites from flea vectors. Indirect transmission occurs when contaminated bedding or food is handled, allowing the pathogen to enter through skin abrasions or mucous membranes.
How do mice transmit mouse fever? - in detail
Mice act as reservoirs for the virus that causes murine fever, shedding infectious particles in urine, feces, and saliva. When contaminated material dries, the virus remains viable for days, creating an aerosol that can be inhaled by other rodents. Direct contact with contaminated surfaces or grooming behavior also facilitates spread among individuals.
Key pathways include:
- Inhalation of aerosolized excreta during nest cleaning or territorial marking.
- Aggressive encounters leading to bite wounds, which introduce virus-laden saliva into the bloodstream.
- Maternal transmission to offspring through the placenta or milk, maintaining the pathogen within a colony.
- Indirect transfer via ectoparasites such as fleas and mites that move between hosts while feeding.
Environmental factors influence transmission efficiency. High humidity prolongs viral stability in droplet nuclei, while dense nesting sites increase the concentration of aerosolized particles. Seasonal peaks correspond with breeding periods, when social interaction intensifies and juvenile susceptibility is greatest.
Laboratory studies demonstrate that inoculation of naïve mice with low-dose aerosol results in infection rates exceeding 80 %, confirming the predominance of respiratory exposure. Conversely, subcutaneous inoculation through bite simulation produces lower infection frequencies, indicating that while possible, this route contributes less to overall spread.
Control measures focus on reducing exposure to contaminated bedding, implementing strict sanitation protocols, and limiting population density to disrupt the primary aerosol pathway.