Roof Rats And Disease Edu

Diseases caused by rats rat droppings rat urine and rat saliva.

Roof rats and disease edu.

Roof rats are not established in the mid western states. However roof rat diseases are the most serious concern for people and pets. Types of roof rat diseases. Hps was first recognized in 1993 and although rare hps is potentially deadly.

The roof rat can appear similar to the norway rat native arizona pack rat neotoma. 2 often is called the black rat. Bubonic plague was a scourge in europe several times throughout history. A roof rat noses around a rodent bait station on kiawah island in august 2020.

The roof rat rattus rattus fig. The sleek black roof rat is one of the most common species of rats in the united states. The body is 6 1 2 to 8 inches long and weighs between 6 and 12 ounces. 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.

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. Rattus rattus also known as the black rat ship rat or house rat is an old world rodent species originating in southeast asia. They can transmit these diseases through physical contact bites by contamination or by fleas that are feeding on the rodent. These pests cause significant damage through their gnawing nesting and burrowing habits.

This is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine droppings or saliva. Gouge paula rivadeneira and shujuan lucy li. Historically infected fleas have transmitted serious plagues from rats to humans. The eyes are large and prominent.

Spp or cotton rat sigmodon arizonae. Eric benson clemson university clemson dogs may be man s best friend but rats have been his. Its color varies from black to brownish gray and the underside varies from gray to white. Roof rats can be carriers of diseases.

Ecology of roof rats and native rats. The roof rat figures 1 4. While casual observations of roof rats or native rats can. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus.

For pest management professionals and environmental health professionals. Among the diseases rats can transmit to humans or livestock are murine typhus leptospirosis salmonellosis food poisoning and ratbite fever. The roof rat has large ears and a pointed nose. There are several diseases roof rats can transmit to humans.