What illnesses can be contracted from rats? - briefly
Rats transmit hantavirus, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, rat‑bite fever, and plague. These diseases spread via urine, droppings, bites, or contaminated food and water.
What illnesses can be contracted from rats? - in detail
Rats serve as reservoirs for a wide range of pathogens that can affect humans through direct contact, bites, inhalation of contaminated dust, or ingestion of food tainted with urine or feces. The most clinically significant agents include:
- Leptospira interrogans – causes leptospirosis; symptoms range from mild flu‑like illness to severe kidney failure, liver dysfunction, and hemorrhagic complications. Diagnosis relies on serology or PCR; doxycycline or penicillin regimens are standard treatment.
- Salmonella spp. – leads to salmonellosis; presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever. Treatment is usually supportive, but severe cases require fluoroquinolones or third‑generation cephalosporins.
- Hantavirus – primarily Seoul virus in urban settings; produces hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Early recognition is critical; ribavirin may improve outcomes, though supportive care remains central.
- Spirillum minus and Streptobacillus moniliformis – agents of rat‑bite fever; manifest as fever, rash, arthralgia, and lymphadenopathy. Penicillin G or doxycycline are effective.
- Yersinia pestis – the bacterium responsible for plague; transmitted via flea bites or direct exposure to infected rodents. Bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic forms exist; rapid administration of streptomycin, gentamicin, or doxycycline is essential.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) – causes aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, or congenital defects if transmitted during pregnancy. No specific antiviral therapy; management is supportive.
- Arenaviruses (e.g., Lassa‑like viruses) – rare but documented in certain regions; present with hemorrhagic fever. Ribavirin may be used under strict protocols.
- Toxoplasma gondii – while cats are definitive hosts, rats can harbor tissue cysts; consumption of undercooked rat meat may lead to toxoplasmosis, characterized by lymphadenopathy, ocular lesions, or severe disease in immunocompromised individuals. Pyrimethamine‑sulfadiazine therapy is standard.
- Bartonella spp. – associated with cat‑scratch disease but also isolated from rats; may cause prolonged fever and lymphadenitis. Doxycycline is often prescribed.
Transmission pathways differ by pathogen. Bacterial agents such as Leptospira and Salmonella are most commonly spread through contaminated water or food, whereas hantavirus and LCMV are inhaled as aerosolized particles from dried rodent droppings. Rat bites introduce specific bacteria directly into the bloodstream. Flea vectors transmit plague, linking rodent infestations to human cases.
Preventive measures focus on environmental control and personal hygiene: sealing food storage, removing clutter, using traps or professional extermination, wearing gloves when handling rodents, and employing respiratory protection during cleaning of infested areas. Post‑exposure prophylaxis with antibiotics is recommended after bite incidents or known high‑risk exposures.
Understanding the spectrum of rat‑associated diseases enables timely diagnosis, appropriate antimicrobial selection, and effective public‑health interventions.