What can mice infect humans with? - briefly
Mice can transmit several zoonotic pathogens, such as hantavirus, Lassa fever virus, salmonella bacteria, Giardia, and Toxoplasma gondii. These agents cause respiratory illness, hemorrhagic fever, gastrointestinal disease, and systemic infection, respectively.
What can mice infect humans with? - in detail
Mice serve as reservoirs for a range of zoonotic agents that can cause illness in people. Transmission occurs through direct contact with rodent urine, feces, saliva, bites, or through contaminated food, water, and surfaces.
Common bacterial infections include:
- Leptospira interrogans – causes leptospirosis, presenting with fever, headache, and renal involvement.
- Salmonella spp. – leads to salmonellosis, characterized by gastrointestinal distress and fever.
- Streptobacillus moniliformis – responsible for rat‑bite fever, producing rash, arthralgia, and fever.
- Yersinia pestis – the agent of plague, which can manifest as bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic forms.
- Bartonella henselae – occasionally transmitted by mice, causing cat‑scratch disease–like symptoms.
Viral pathogens carried by mice include:
- Hantavirus – causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, with symptoms ranging from flu‑like illness to severe respiratory failure.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) – leads to meningitis, encephalitis, or congenital infection in pregnant women.
- Cowpox virus – rare human infections present as localized skin lesions.
Parasitic agents transmitted from rodents encompass:
- Heligmosomoides polygyrus – intestinal nematode causing abdominal pain and malabsorption.
- Echinococcus multilocularis – tapeworm larvae that can produce cystic lesions in liver and lungs.
- Toxoplasma gondii – while cats are primary hosts, mice act as intermediate carriers, contributing to human exposure through contaminated food.
Prevention focuses on rodent control, proper sanitation, protective equipment when handling rodents, and avoiding consumption of food or water exposed to rodent waste. Early recognition of symptoms and prompt medical evaluation improve outcomes for infections linked to murine vectors.