What diseases do rats and mice carry? - briefly
Rats and mice are reservoirs for leptospirosis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, salmonellosis, plague (Yersinia pestis), rat‑bite fever (Spirillum minus), lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, and several intestinal parasites such as Hymenolepis nana. Human infection occurs via bites, inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta, contaminated food or water, and direct contact with urine or feces.
What diseases do rats and mice carry? - in detail
Rats and mice act as reservoirs for a wide range of pathogens that can affect humans directly or through intermediate hosts. The most significant agents include:
- Leptospira interrogans – spirochete causing leptospirosis; transmitted via urine-contaminated water or soil; symptoms range from fever and myalgia to renal failure and meningitis.
- Salmonella spp. – bacteria responsible for salmonellosis; spread through fecal contamination of food and surfaces; produces gastro‑intestinal illness with diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.
- Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus – causative agents of rat‑bite fever; infection follows bites or scratches, leading to fever, rash, arthralgia, and, in severe cases, septicemia.
- Yersinia pestis – bacterium behind plague; fleas feeding on infected rodents transmit the organism to humans; clinical forms include bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague, each with high mortality if untreated.
- Hantaviruses – notably Seoul virus (carried by rats) and Hantaan, Sin Nombre, and Puumala viruses (carried by mice); inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta leads to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, characterized by fever, hemorrhage, and respiratory distress.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) – transmitted through contaminated rodent secretions; infection may cause febrile illness, meningitis, or encephalitis, and poses a particular risk to pregnant women due to potential fetal complications.
- Rickettsia typhi – agent of murine typhus; fleas act as vectors, and human infection produces fever, headache, and a maculopapular rash.
- Bartonella henselae – occasionally harbored by mice; can cause cat‑scratch disease–like symptoms, including lymphadenopathy and fever.
- Bacterial spores – Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium spp. have been isolated from rodent carcasses; exposure may result in anthrax or gas gangrene under specific conditions.
Parasitic organisms also rely on these rodents:
- Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm) – directly infects humans via ingestion of eggs; causes abdominal discomfort and nutrient malabsorption.
- Strongyloides stercoralis – soil‑transmitted nematode; rodent reservoirs facilitate environmental contamination, leading to chronic intestinal infection.
- Protozoa such as Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. – spread through contaminated water or food; produce watery diarrhea and weight loss.
Ectoparasites that infest rats and mice—fleas, mites, and ticks—serve as mechanical or biological vectors for many of the agents listed above, amplifying the risk of human exposure.
Effective control measures focus on rodent population management, sanitation to eliminate food and water sources, and protective equipment for individuals handling rodents. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial or antiviral therapy are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these zoonoses.