Roof Rats And Disease Edu

The roof rat can appear similar to the norway rat native arizona pack rat neotoma.

Roof rats and disease edu.

Roof rats can be carriers of diseases. The roof rat figures 1 4. Its color varies from black to brownish gray and the underside varies from gray to white. The eyes are large and prominent.

Rattus rattus also known as the black rat ship rat or house rat is an old world rodent species originating in southeast asia. While casual observations of roof rats or native rats can. 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. Ecology of roof rats and native rats.

Eric benson clemson university clemson dogs may be man s best friend but rats have been his. Gouge paula rivadeneira and shujuan lucy li. The roof rat rattus rattus fig. 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 has large ears and a pointed nose. The sleek black roof rat is one of the most common species of rats in the united states. Diseases caused by rats rat droppings rat urine and rat saliva. 2 often is called the black rat.

Hps was first recognized in 1993 and although rare hps is potentially deadly. Spp or cotton rat sigmodon arizonae. Table 1 provides a brief description of the physical similarities and differences among these rodents. There are several diseases roof rats can transmit to humans.

Bubonic plague was a scourge in europe several times throughout history. 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. For pest management professionals and environmental health professionals.

Historically infected fleas have transmitted serious plagues from rats to humans. The body is 6 1 2 to 8 inches long and weighs between 6 and 12 ounces. They can transmit these diseases through physical contact bites by contamination or by fleas that are feeding on the rodent. 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. Among the diseases rats can transmit to humans or livestock are murine typhus leptospirosis salmonellosis food poisoning and ratbite fever. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus.