Rodent Borne Diseases

Rodent born diseases are carried by rodents such as rats, mice and bats and can be transmitted to humans in a number of ways such as contact with rodent waste, rodent bite, consuming food or water contaminated by rodent waste or through parasites that use rodents as hosts’ e.g. fleas and ticks. Rodents play a significant role in the transmission of many disease causing pathogens to humans causing severe health issues which if left untreated can prove to be fatal. Rodents thrive in warm, wet winters and springs and also when there is a breakdown in sanitation and inadequate hygiene. Unclean surroundings are the perfect breeding ground for rodents and can therefore increase the spread of rodent borne diseases. In addition to this, their nesting habits can cause damage to the structure of buildings. Rodents are usually secretive and therefore rodent infestation can be difficult to confirm. However, with the appearance of certain signs like rat droppings, or presence of dead or living rats, damaged floor boards, holes in walls or ceilings or food scraps littered on paths. Rodents can act as both intermediate infected hosts or as hosts for vectors such as fleas and ticks causing various kinds of diseases. Rodent borne diseases fall in two categories; diseases that are directly transmitted from rodents and diseases indirectly transmitted by rodents through vectors. pesticides. 

1. Diseases transmitted directly from exposure to rat infected faeces, urine or bites:


• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: It’s a viral disease that is transmitted by the rice rat. The disease is spread either by inhaling dust that is contaminated with rat urine & droppings or due to bite of rat.


• Leptospirosis: It’s a bacterial disease that can be transmitted by coming into contact with rodent urine infected water by consuming the water or swimming in it.


• Rat Bite Fever: This disease is transmitted through a rat bite or contact with a dead rat.


• Salmonellosis: It’s caused by consuming food or water that is contaminated by rat faeces bacteria.


2. Diseases indirectly transmitted by rodents:


• Plague: It’s a disease caused by rats and transmitted by fleas in the process of taking a blood meal. Domestic rats are the most common cause of plague.


• Colorado Tick Fever: It’s a viral disease that is transmitted by the bite of a tick in the process of taking a blood meal but is caused by rodents.