What diseases do mice and rats carry? - briefly
Mice and rats are vectors for numerous zoonoses, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, plague (Yersinia pestis), Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and various bacterial infections such as rat‑bite fever (Streptobacillus moniliformis).
What diseases do mice and rats carry? - in detail
Rodents such as house mice and Norway rats serve as reservoirs for a wide range of pathogens that affect humans and domestic animals. Transmission occurs through direct contact, contaminated food or water, aerosolized droppings, and bites.
Bacterial agents commonly associated with these mammals include:
- Salmonella spp. – causes gastroenteritis after ingestion of contaminated food or surfaces.
- Leptospira interrogans – the agent of leptospirosis, spread via urine that contaminates water sources.
- Yersinia pestis – responsible for plague; fleas feeding on infected rodents transmit the bacterium to humans.
- Streptobacillus moniliformis – the cause of rat‑bite fever, introduced through scratches or bites.
- Bartonella henselae – occasionally transmitted by rodent fleas, leading to cat‑scratch disease‑like illness.
Viral infections carried by these species comprise:
- Hantavirus (e.g., Seoul virus in rats, Sin Nombre virus in mice) – inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta can result in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) – transmitted through contaminated bedding or direct contact; infection may cause meningitis or encephalitis.
- Arenaviruses – certain strains found in rodents can produce severe hemorrhagic fevers.
- Rabies – rare in typical laboratory mice and rats but documented in wild populations; transmitted by bites.
Parasitic organisms also rely on these hosts:
- Toxoplasma gondii – rodents act as intermediate hosts; felids acquire the parasite by predation, and humans can become infected through contaminated soil or water.
- Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm) – eggs shed in rodent feces may infect humans who ingest them.
- Echinococcus multilocularis – foxes and dogs are definitive hosts, but rodents serve as intermediate carriers, facilitating human exposure through accidental ingestion of eggs.
Fungal pathogens are less common but noteworthy:
- Histoplasma capsulatum – thrives in environments enriched with bird or bat droppings; rodent nests can create microhabitats that support fungal growth, leading to respiratory disease upon spore inhalation.
Each disease presents specific clinical manifestations, incubation periods, and treatment protocols. Preventive measures focus on rodent control, proper sanitation, safe food storage, and personal protective equipment when handling rodents or cleaning infested areas. Prompt identification of exposure and appropriate medical intervention reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these zoonoses.