Roof Rats And Disease Edu

Among the diseases rats can transmit to humans or livestock are murine typhus leptospirosis salmonellosis food poisoning and ratbite fever.

Roof rats and disease edu.

The roof rat figures 1 4. 2 often is called the black rat. Gouge paula rivadeneira and shujuan lucy li. Plague is a disease that both roof and norway rats can carry but in california it is more commonly associated with ground squirrels chipmunks and native woodrats.

The roof rat primarily occupies the coastal areas of washington oregon and california as well as a larger area along the gulf and atlantic coast states from texas to maryland. The roof rat has large ears and a pointed nose. Diseases caused by rats rat droppings rat urine and rat saliva. Types of roof rat diseases.

Table 1 provides a brief description of the physical similarities and differences among these rodents. Rattus rattus also known as the black rat ship rat or house rat is an old world rodent species originating in southeast asia. The sleek black roof rat is one of the most common species of rats in the united states. A roof rat noses around a rodent bait station on kiawah island in august 2020.

Tiguous 50 states although the norway rat may be absent from some relatively large geographic areas of the west. Roof rats are not established in the mid western states. The body is 6 1 2 to 8 inches long and weighs between 6 and 12 ounces. Its color varies from black to brownish gray and the underside varies from gray to white.

For pest management professionals and environmental health professionals. The eyes are large and prominent. Spp or cotton rat sigmodon arizonae. These pests cause significant damage through their gnawing nesting and burrowing habits.

Bubonic plague was a scourge in europe several times throughout history. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome hps. The roof rat rattus rattus fig. However roof rat diseases are the most serious concern for people and pets.

There are several diseases roof rats can transmit to humans. They can transmit these diseases through physical contact bites by contamination or by fleas that are feeding on the rodent. The roof rat can appear similar to the norway rat native arizona pack rat neotoma. Historically infected fleas have transmitted serious plagues from rats to humans.

Hps was first recognized in 1993 and although rare hps is potentially deadly. Eric benson clemson university clemson dogs may be man s best friend but rats have been his. This is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine droppings or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus.