Rat disease transmitted to humans
Nowadays, rats have gained a place as favorite pets for some children, since they are creative in play, skillful, shrewd, and best of all, they do not require much attention in terms of their care. However, there is also the other side of the coin: many consider them to be animals with countless diseases that can be transmitted from animal to human, that is, zoonotic diseases.
It should be noted that there are different Types of Rats Domestic and wild, and not all of their species can transmit some type of disease, parasite, virus, or other illness to humans. Some of them, on the other hand, do not walk in filth and, like all wild or domestic animals, are prone to contracting some type of bacteria, and all of this depends on where they feed or the space where they live.
For example, if an animal is in the city and feeds on waste and ingests contaminated water, lives in sewers, etc., it is not surprising that it becomes contaminated or infected with some bacteria, virus, or microorganism, resulting in a general infestation of the area and becoming a public health disturbance and complication.
Unlike pet rats, which receive veterinary care, are vaccinated, and are kept clean, their food and water are not contaminated, so these types of pets are less likely to carry bacteria or rat diseases that can be transmitted to humans.
But this doesn't mean there aren't diseases rats can transmit to humans, so when you get a rat as a pet, you need to be aware of its care and how to prevent these types of diseases.
Diseases that rats can transmit
As we have mentioned before, rats are a means of transmission of different types of diseases which we can classify in two ways:
- Directly transmitted diseases, these are when the human has direct contact with them or ingests some type of secretion that is already exposed to some rat bacteria.
- Indirect transmission is the result of any secretion from the rat, whether urine or feces, which can contaminate water, surfaces, and food consumed by humans.
Cases can also be evidenced where any insect that bites the infected rat and some virus is present and then the insect in question bites the person and through its fluids, transmits some type of infection to the person. disease caused by rats.
Here is a series of diseases transmitted by rats, how it spreads and how to prevent it:
Leptospirosis and Weil's disease
It is a disease transmitted from animal to person, with a high level of contagion, a bacterium identified as letospira interrogans is the cause of said disease, hence its name, this bacterium is capable of making any species sick.
It is very important that the corresponding tests are carried out in order to reach the correct diagnosis and apply the appropriate treatment at the beginning of the disease, in order to avoid possible complications with other pathologies that appear as a result of this disease.
In humans, leptospirosis can present with mild symptoms, such as malaise, eye infection, mild headaches, and fever. However, there are also more severe cases with more complex symptoms, such as:
- La meningitis It originates from the same infection and the person presents stiffness in the neck, vomiting, very strong muscle pain and high fever.
- pulmonary hemorrhage in severe cases it can cause death since the patient has difficulty breathing, as well as cough and fever.
- La disease de Weil the symptoms take about half a month to appear, chills, vomiting, upset stomach, muscle pain, dry cough, fever and myalgia occur.
Treatment for leptospirosis
After being certain of the diagnosis, treatment with special antibiotics for these rat diseases is started, high-end treatments that can eliminate the bacteria to prevent the progression of the disease. So it is important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
hantavirus
Viral disease transmitted by rats to people, it is one of the most difficult to diagnose, its contagion occurs directly through any type of rat fluids, be it saliva, urine or rat poop.
Rats and mice are used as a means of transmission for this disease. Symptoms include chills, muscle aches, fever, malaise, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in the most severe cases, respiratory distress or low blood pressure, which are signs of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS).
Currently, approximately 300 patients are diagnosed with this type of virus, most of them in 13 endemic areas, areas where there is not much civilization, such as agricultural fields and rural areas.
It's important to keep in mind that both leptospirosis and hantavirus are associated with poor sanitation in the area where we live. This rat disease has no cure; the virus can be fatal in most cases. There are areas where this disease is being monitored and controlled to prevent its spread.
There is no treatment for hantavirus as such; these are simply recommendations to prevent the disease from harming you, as well as to keep the area where you live hygienic, avoiding the accumulation of waste or food scraps that could attract rats.
tularemia
It is an infection caused by the bacterium Francisella tulariensis. This condition generally affects wild rodents and all other rodents. It's important to note that this disease can also be present in some domestic animals because rats can transmit this virus to dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Tularemia is a rare disease. It is contagious to humans and transmitted directly from the infected animal through the skin or blood. There is evidence that tularemia can be transmitted through the bite of insects such as mosquitoes and flies, and also through the bite of mites, in this case, ticks.
Symptoms of the disease in humans
Malnutrition, dyspnea, myalgias, fevers, chills, skin rosettes, firm or inflexible joints, irritated eyes, muscular discomfort and excessive sweating.
Treatment for tularemia disease
The use of antibiotics is mainly recommended to be able to destroy the bacteria and the possible complications that they may produce, that is why it is so important that you go to a doctor in time to be able to give an accurate diagnosis.
Bubonic plague
Rat disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This bacterium is a host to any animal and parasites such as fleas. This parasite is the primary means of transmission to humans, as this bacterium is found in rats and mice.
It can also be a disease by direct contact of the mouse feces or inhalation of any rat-infected waste.
The best-known bubonic plague disease record was the one that originated in Europe, which at that time in the Middle Ages was identified as the Black Death. At present we have approximately 5000 cases per year and they occur mostly in these rural areas of Asia, Africa, and even the United States.
The most frequent symptoms in this disease
One of them is swollen lymph nodes, which are located in the groin, neck, or armpits. These nodes swell to the point of being the size of a chicken's nest, are very painful to the touch, and have a high temperature. Other symptoms include general malaise, muscle pain, headache, chills, and high fever.
When these bacteria are found in the blood, the disease is considered to be at its most severe stage. At this point, the disease causes severe bleeding, stomach pain, weakness, and, in the worst cases, sudden death.
This bacterium can also lodge in the lungs and cause excesses of continuous coughing with a lot of dyspnea, accompanied by blood. This condition has a very high level and without timely treatment it can progress very quickly through the body and in a few days can cause death in the person.
As we mentioned earlier, it is very important that you see a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above so that you can receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
bubonic plague treatment
Mainly, it's taking special broad-spectrum antibiotics and cleaning and maintaining the area where we live, avoiding the accumulation of waste. This is the best prevention because if we don't have rats, we can control the infestation of fleas and other parasites that are means of transmission.
Toxoplasmosis
When we talk about toxoplasmosis we always associate it with felines, because it is one of the Diseases Transmitted by Cats, which is the most common mode of transmission, especially when it occurs through infected food and water. Cats are the main host species for this disease and are also the only ones capable of excreting this material in their feces; this is possibly the means of transmission to humans.
There are species that can carry toxoplasmosis cysts, such as cattle, sheep, chickens, and, of course, all types of rodents. Toxoplasmosis is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated meat. The infected animal becomes infected, and the protozoan becomes active again, and its life cycle begins inside a living organism. A pregnant woman can transmit the toxoplasmosis virus to her baby during pregnancy.
The symptoms of toxoplasmosis in people are:
Discomfort in the throat, muscle pain, high joints, swollen lymph nodes, myalgias and blurred vision.
If the immune system is compromised, toxoplasmosis can cause other symptoms such as retinal inflammation, confusion, dizziness, and even seizures. It's important to keep in mind that domestic cats, rabbits, rats, and mice are not prone to toxoplasmosis, as they are always vaccinated and medically monitored, meaning they have a lower risk of infection and transmission to humans.
Salmonellosis
It is classified as a zoonotic disease, has a high infection rate, and is caused by Salmonella bongori or Salmonella enterica bacteria. This disease is currently most commonly transmitted through contaminated food, with more than one million cases worldwide.
Salmonella is found in the intestines of birds and their eggs. However, as we know, this bacteria persists for long periods in the external environment. Rats are the main carriers of this disease, in most cases showing no symptoms. A person can be infected with salmonella directly by eating foods such as meat, vegetables, eggs, among others, or by drinking water contaminated by the feces of an infected animal.
So the only way a person can become infected is through oral contact. It's safe to say that most people have had direct contact with this microorganism, but there's also the possibility that the infection doesn't progress at all; it may simply present very mild symptoms that each individual's immune system manages to counteract.
In its most severe clinical state, salmonellosis can have stomach complications, with the following symptoms appearing:
Stools with blood, stomach disorders such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, headache, dehydration, and general malaise.
Treatment for salmonellosis
Like all types of infections, it is treated with special antibiotics as well as some painkillers to control the general pain that occurs. Regarding the solution for the patient's nutrition and to prevent dehydration, it is recommended to take antidiarrheal medications that allow for a good diet and a strong immune system.
We can prevent this disease by washing food, fruits and vegetables well, even packaged and canned foods, it is very important to wash the shell of the eggs when they are full of excrement, wash your hands before handling food in order to prevent any type of disease.
When keeping pets like rats or birds, it's important to handle their food properly to prevent any type of infection, as well as to clean and maintain the area where the pet and all its accessories are kept.
rat bite fever
The bacteria that causes this disease is called Streptobacillus moniliformis, which lives exclusively in the saliva and fluids of rats. After the rat bite, the following symptoms appear within a week and a half:
Cardiovascular inflammation, respiratory infection, meningitis, joint stiffness, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, chills, fever, malaise, muscle discomfort, myalgia, skin rosettes.
In the Asian continent, the bacterium spirillum minus, also called sudoku, is present. In the case of this bite, it also tends to heal quickly and from 7 days to 21 days the following symptoms appear:
Cysts, rashes, muscle aches, fever, rosettes, swollen lymph nodes, swollen throat, swollen heart, meningitis, hepatitis, breathing problems, fever and chills.
For treatment of this disease in rats, antibiotics are indicated for either bacterial infection, and it is important to detect the disease early so that the doctor can provide the correct instructions for eliminating the bacteria.
As we've already mentioned, the most important thing to prevent these types of rat diseases is to maintain proper hygiene and prevent the spread of rats within and around your home. If you are bitten by a rat, you should immediately wash the wound with antibacterial soap and go to a medical center for immediate care.
Typhus
It is a highly serious infection transmitted from rats to humans, which can be prevented through proper hygiene. Current studies have revealed two types:
- Endemic typhus: It can be transmitted by any type of parasite and feeds on the blood of rats, including fleas.
- Types Murine is transmitted by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi and is spread directly through contact with rat droppings or the bite of fleas infected with the bacteria.
The symptom The most frequent in either of the two types of typhus are:
Stiff joints, muscle discomfort, stomach problems, rashes, dyspnea, back pain, abdominal pain and high body temperature.
treatment for typhus
It's treated with antibiotics, and in extreme cases, oxygen and intravenous solutions are necessary, but all of this is done under the supervision of a doctor. As we discussed in the previous diseases, good hygiene in and around your home is the only way to best prevent the spread of these rat diseases.
Internal parasites
Most animals, in this case rats, carry various parasites, which, when eliminated in rat urine and feces, can be transmitted to humans, causing health problems. They can affect a person's nutritional intake, causing weight loss, loss of appetite, low blood sugar, and even anorexia.
External parasites
Fleas, ticks, and any type of mite and parasite carry countless diseases that can be transmitted to humans, including all those mentioned above. Many of them can cause all kinds of internal and external diseases, such as scabies, allergies, and any skin problem.
If you've decided to get a rat as a pet, you should be aware of all the diseases rats can transmit, which you can prevent by maintaining good hygiene and providing medical care to prevent infection with both internal and external parasites. With all these precautions and information we've provided in this article, you'll know what care you should take.
