Roof Rats And Disease Edu

They can transmit these diseases through physical contact bites by contamination or by fleas that are feeding on the rodent.

Roof rats and disease edu.

Rattus rattus also known as the black rat ship rat or house rat is an old world rodent species originating in southeast asia. This is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine droppings or saliva. 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. Its color varies from black to brownish gray and the underside varies from gray to white.

Bubonic plague was a scourge in europe several times throughout history. The roof rat has large ears and a pointed nose. Ecology of roof rats and native rats. Types of roof rat diseases.

Historically infected fleas have transmitted serious plagues from rats to humans. However roof rat diseases are the most serious concern for people and pets. Roof rats are not established in the mid western states. Spp or cotton rat sigmodon arizonae.

The eyes are large and prominent. Table 1 provides a brief description of the physical similarities and differences among these rodents. Hps was first recognized in 1993 and although rare hps is potentially deadly. Gouge paula rivadeneira and shujuan lucy li.

The sleek black roof rat is one of the most common species of rats in the united states. The roof rat can appear similar to the norway rat native arizona pack rat neotoma. The roof rat figures 1 4. Tiguous 50 states although the norway rat may be absent from some relatively large geographic areas of the west.

Diseases caused by rats rat droppings rat urine and rat saliva. While casual observations of roof rats or native rats can. Among the diseases rats can transmit to humans or livestock are murine typhus leptospirosis salmonellosis food poisoning and ratbite fever. 2 often is called the black rat.

A roof rat noses around a rodent bait station on kiawah island in august 2020. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome hps. For pest management professionals and environmental health professionals. Roof rats can be carriers of diseases.

These pests cause significant damage through their gnawing nesting and burrowing habits. 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 body is 6 1 2 to 8 inches long and weighs between 6 and 12 ounces. Eric benson clemson university clemson dogs may be man s best friend but rats have been his.