Rats – considered cute and cuddly by rat pet owners, can cause fear and disgust in most other people. Filthy and dangerous, rats get a big share of the blame for the spread of many diseases. Some minor, some life-threatening.
People can get many types of diseases from both wild and domesticated rats. However, the risk of contracting diseases from wild rats is higher because of the free-ranging ways of this rodent type. Domesticated rats, especially those that come from reputable and responsible breeders, get monitored, checked and treated regularly. As such, they pose less threat to the health of their owners. Regardless of the type of rat you might encounter, it is important to be in the know regarding the diseases rats can infect you with.
Don't mess around if you have rats in your house.
Get yourself some rat traps and keep your family safe!
Diseases can be passed from rats to humans in different ways, some of which include biting, contaminating human food and drink with rat urine and feces, or infecting wounds with rat urine. These diseases can also be passed indirectly through mites, fleas and the urine of infected pets like cats and dogs. The disease can also be widespread if an infected rat dies in a water source that humans use for drinking.
Bubonic Plague. Rats are attributed for spreading the plague, but it is really the rat fleas that are responsible for transmitting yersinispestis, the type of bacteria that caused the plague. This bacterium is very strong that just a few cells of it are often enough to kill a human being. Present in rats and other rodents in the US and in other parts of the world, this bacterium claimed the lives of millions of people in Europe during the 1300s. It is a highly communicable disease, with symptoms that include red and swollen lymph nodes (or buboes, hence the name), weakness, chills and fever. While it is considered fatal, bubonic disease can easily be treated with antibiotics.
Leptospirosis. People who catch leptospirosis or Weil’s disease get symptoms, such as muscle aches, rashes, vomiting and fever. In worst cases, the leptospira bacteria can lead to severe pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome, or bleeding of the lungs. This type of bacteria is usually spread when mucous membranes like the eyes, the nose, the mouth or breaks in the skin come in contact with contaminated animal urine and feces, mostly from rodents. Some infections respond to antibiotic treatment, while worst cases need more aggressive forms of treatment.
Rat-Bite Fever. As the name suggests, this disease is contracted through rat bites. However, a person who gets scratched by a rat or gets in contact with rat urine can also have rat-bite fever. Rat-bite fever comes in two forms: spirillary infection and streptobacillary infection. Spiirillary infection is characterized by rashes, swollen lymph nodes and recurring fevers, while symptoms of streptobacillary infection include rashes, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and fever. This type of disease, if left untreated, can prove to be fatal.
Salmonellosis. Caused by the bacterium salmonella, this disease is characterized by fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Rats and mice carry this bacteria, which is spread through contact with, and ingestion of, rodent urine and droppings. Infected healthy adults can quickly recover from this infection, but some sufferers are not as lucky – the infection can reenter the bloodstream and cause further damage to the body. Salmonellosis can also infect household pets.
Tapeworm infections. Rats carry tapeworms, parasites that can be transmitted to humans through human food contamination of rat droppings. These parasites hatch, grow, and reproduce in the stomach.
Murine Typhus. This is a disease brought about by fleas that transmit rickettsia typhi, which causes fever, headaches, rashes, cough and general malaise. While treatable with antibiotics, this disease can cause death in weak and elderly patients.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. This is a respiratory disease spread through rat bites, breathing in dust contaminated by rat waste and direct contact with rat feces and urine. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, dizziness, chills and stomach disturbances. If not treated immediately, this disease can lead to death.
Eosinophilic Meningitis. This disease is an infection of the brain meninges caused by the increase of white blood cells in the brain. This increase is triggered by the spread of worms that come from the lungs of infected rats. Characterized by severe headache, vomiting, nausea, stiffness of the neck and general weakness, this disease can be treated through lumbar puncture and removal of cerebral spine fluid and intake of corticosteroids.
Lyme Disease. The most common of all tick-borne disease in the United States, Lyme disease is caused by the bite of ticks from carrier rodents. Symptoms of this disease include fever, headaches, skin lesion and stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joints.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV). Characterized by lack of appetite, malaise, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, this disease can include two stages, the second of which can lead to meningitis, encephalitis and even acute hydrocephalus. Treatment includes surgical shunting, a process that results in the relief of intracranial pressure. Fortunately, this disease is not fatal, with mortality less than 1%.
Rats do not just cause damage to homes and property; they also endanger the lives of humans and other animals. In order to prevent rat-borne diseases from wreaking havoc in your household and community, you must do your part in maintaining cleanliness and creating a rat-free environment.
People can get many types of diseases from both wild and domesticated rats. However, the risk of contracting diseases from wild rats is higher because of the free-ranging ways of this rodent type. Domesticated rats, especially those that come from reputable and responsible breeders, get monitored, checked and treated regularly. As such, they pose less threat to the health of their owners. Regardless of the type of rat you might encounter, it is important to be in the know regarding the diseases rats can infect you with.
Don't mess around if you have rats in your house.
Get yourself some rat traps and keep your family safe!
Diseases can be passed from rats to humans in different ways, some of which include biting, contaminating human food and drink with rat urine and feces, or infecting wounds with rat urine. These diseases can also be passed indirectly through mites, fleas and the urine of infected pets like cats and dogs. The disease can also be widespread if an infected rat dies in a water source that humans use for drinking.
Bubonic Plague. Rats are attributed for spreading the plague, but it is really the rat fleas that are responsible for transmitting yersinispestis, the type of bacteria that caused the plague. This bacterium is very strong that just a few cells of it are often enough to kill a human being. Present in rats and other rodents in the US and in other parts of the world, this bacterium claimed the lives of millions of people in Europe during the 1300s. It is a highly communicable disease, with symptoms that include red and swollen lymph nodes (or buboes, hence the name), weakness, chills and fever. While it is considered fatal, bubonic disease can easily be treated with antibiotics.
Leptospirosis. People who catch leptospirosis or Weil’s disease get symptoms, such as muscle aches, rashes, vomiting and fever. In worst cases, the leptospira bacteria can lead to severe pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome, or bleeding of the lungs. This type of bacteria is usually spread when mucous membranes like the eyes, the nose, the mouth or breaks in the skin come in contact with contaminated animal urine and feces, mostly from rodents. Some infections respond to antibiotic treatment, while worst cases need more aggressive forms of treatment.
Rat-Bite Fever. As the name suggests, this disease is contracted through rat bites. However, a person who gets scratched by a rat or gets in contact with rat urine can also have rat-bite fever. Rat-bite fever comes in two forms: spirillary infection and streptobacillary infection. Spiirillary infection is characterized by rashes, swollen lymph nodes and recurring fevers, while symptoms of streptobacillary infection include rashes, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and fever. This type of disease, if left untreated, can prove to be fatal.
Salmonellosis. Caused by the bacterium salmonella, this disease is characterized by fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Rats and mice carry this bacteria, which is spread through contact with, and ingestion of, rodent urine and droppings. Infected healthy adults can quickly recover from this infection, but some sufferers are not as lucky – the infection can reenter the bloodstream and cause further damage to the body. Salmonellosis can also infect household pets.
Tapeworm infections. Rats carry tapeworms, parasites that can be transmitted to humans through human food contamination of rat droppings. These parasites hatch, grow, and reproduce in the stomach.
Murine Typhus. This is a disease brought about by fleas that transmit rickettsia typhi, which causes fever, headaches, rashes, cough and general malaise. While treatable with antibiotics, this disease can cause death in weak and elderly patients.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. This is a respiratory disease spread through rat bites, breathing in dust contaminated by rat waste and direct contact with rat feces and urine. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, dizziness, chills and stomach disturbances. If not treated immediately, this disease can lead to death.
Eosinophilic Meningitis. This disease is an infection of the brain meninges caused by the increase of white blood cells in the brain. This increase is triggered by the spread of worms that come from the lungs of infected rats. Characterized by severe headache, vomiting, nausea, stiffness of the neck and general weakness, this disease can be treated through lumbar puncture and removal of cerebral spine fluid and intake of corticosteroids.
Lyme Disease. The most common of all tick-borne disease in the United States, Lyme disease is caused by the bite of ticks from carrier rodents. Symptoms of this disease include fever, headaches, skin lesion and stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joints.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV). Characterized by lack of appetite, malaise, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, this disease can include two stages, the second of which can lead to meningitis, encephalitis and even acute hydrocephalus. Treatment includes surgical shunting, a process that results in the relief of intracranial pressure. Fortunately, this disease is not fatal, with mortality less than 1%.
Rats do not just cause damage to homes and property; they also endanger the lives of humans and other animals. In order to prevent rat-borne diseases from wreaking havoc in your household and community, you must do your part in maintaining cleanliness and creating a rat-free environment.