What can be contracted from mice? - briefly
Mice can transmit zoonotic agents including hantavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Salmonella spp., Leptospira interrogans, and parasites such as Hymenolepis nana. They also harbor bacterial pathogens like Streptobacillus moniliformis, which cause rat‑bite fever.
What can be contracted from mice? - in detail
Mice serve as reservoirs for a range of pathogens that can infect humans through direct contact, bites, aerosolized particles, or contaminated food and bedding. The most clinically relevant agents include:
- Hantavirus – primarily transmitted via inhalation of dust contaminated with rodent urine or feces; causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, characterized by fever, myalgia, and respiratory distress.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) – spread by exposure to infected saliva, urine, or contaminated surfaces; produces aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, or febrile illness, with higher risk for pregnant women and immunocompromised patients.
- Salmonella spp. – shed in feces; ingestion of contaminated food or water leads to gastroenteritis, fever, and abdominal cramps.
- Leptospira interrogans – present in urine; skin abrasions or mucous membranes exposed to contaminated water cause leptospirosis, presenting with fever, headache, and jaundice.
- Bartonella spp. (including B. henselae) – transmitted by ectoparasites such as fleas; may result in cat‑scratch disease–like symptoms, including lymphadenopathy and fever.
- Streptobacillus moniliformis – agent of rat‑bite fever, also acquired from mouse bites; produces fever, rash, arthralgia, and polyarthritis.
- Yersinia pestis – historically linked to plague; occasionally isolated from wild mice; infection manifests as bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic plague with high mortality if untreated.
- Mycobacterium ulcerans – associated with skin ulceration; environmental exposure to contaminated water where mice act as carriers may lead to Buruli ulcer.
- Helminths and protozoa – including Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm) and Giardia lamblia; transmission occurs through ingestion of eggs or cysts from contaminated surfaces, causing gastrointestinal disturbance.
Preventive measures focus on rodent control, proper sanitation, protective equipment during laboratory work, and prompt wound care. Early recognition of symptoms and laboratory confirmation enable targeted antimicrobial or antiviral therapy, reducing morbidity and mortality associated with these zoonotic infections.