I personally have never gotten sick from them, but it’s possible and important for you know the risks. Especially if you are immunocompromised. Any pet can give you pathogens, I personally think dogs and cats are more likely to get you sick (think rabies and toxoplasmosis). Rats are incredibly clean animals and unlike cats and dogs, they don’t go outside to catch pathogens from wild animals. This list may be scary, but if you get rats from a source who tests for them and are careful about preventing disease, the risk is extremely low. Many breeders screen for these pathogens, and every breeder in the USA has access to these resources. Remember that pet stores and most rescues do not test for pathogens or actively breed to prevent these pathogens.
Here is a list of zoonotic pathogens rats can carry that humans can catch from them, I test for 1-5 in my colony every year.
1. LCMV (Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus) – Can cause flu-like symptoms, meningitis, or severe complications in immunocompromised individuals or during pregnancy (risk of birth defects).
2. HTNV (Hantaan virus) – Can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), leading to fever, kidney failure, and internal bleeding.
3. MPUL (Maporal virus) – A hantavirus with limited human cases; potential to cause respiratory or renal issues.
4. ECUN (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) – A microsporidian parasite that can infect immunocompromised humans, leading to neurological or kidney disease.
5. Rat Bite Fever (RBF) (Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minus) – Causes fever, rash, joint pain, and, if untreated, can lead to severe complications like sepsis or organ failure. A few fatal reports in humans.
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Additionally:
6. Giardia (Giardia spp.) – A parasite that can cause giardiasis, leading to diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and dehydration in humans.
7. Leptospirosis (Leptospira spp.) – A bacterial infection that can cause flu-like symptoms, jaundice, kidney or liver damage, and, in severe cases, meningitis or respiratory distress.
8. Salmonella (Salmonella spp.) – A bacterial infection that can cause food poisoning, leading to diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
9. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) (Various hantaviruses) – Can cause severe respiratory distress, fever, muscle aches, and fluid buildup in the lungs, sometimes fatal.
Immunocompromised individuals, those who plan to become pregnant, and homes with children under 5 should not own rats and limit exposure to most animals to prevent contracting disease.
Always wash hands after interacting with rats and between handling other species of pets in your house.
Pathogens that aren’t known to affect humans but may be spread from rat to rat:
1. SEND (Sialodacryoadenitis virus) - A coronavirus causing respiratory disease, eye inflammation, and swollen salivary glands in rats.
2. SDAV (Sialodacryoadenitis virus) - Another name for SEND, often used interchangeably.
3. KRV (Kilham rat virus) - A parvovirus that can affect immune function and reproduction in rats, often subclinical.
4. PCAR (“RRV” Parker’s rat coronavirus) - A coronavirus similar to SDAV, primarily affecting the respiratory system in rats.
5. CARB (F. rodentium) (Citrobacter rodentium) - Causes gastrointestinal disease in rats, often used in research as a model for bacterial infections.
6. IDIR (ROTA-B) (Infectious diarrhea of infant rats) - A rotavirus that causes diarrhea in young rats, but does not infect humans.
It is important to quarantine new rats for a minimum of 2 weeks to check for illness before introducing them to your current rats. They should have their own cage in a separate air space, disinfect your hands and clothes if necessary between caring for groups. Contact an exotic vet for any signs of illness.
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