Disease Disclosure
It is important to understand that your pet rat can be a vector for diseases, just as any domestic or wild animal can be. Your rat may or may not show symptoms of these diseases but can still transfer them to you. Many of these diseases do not affect a healthy human adult but for those with immune-compromised systems, including but not limited to: children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, the elderly, those on immune-suppressant drugs, or with viral infections, rats may need to be reconsidered as pets.
Below is a list of the zoonosis diseases and the symptoms that may be carried by pet rats:
Seoul Strain of Hantavirus
Seoul Virus is a type of Hantavirus commonly associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Symptoms appear within 1-2 weeks and in rare cases up to 8 weeks.
Symptoms include:
To prevent infection, wear a mask and gloves when cleaning cages, do not use a vacuum or sweep particles into the air, spray down any bedding before moving it, and wash your hands before and after handling your rat(s).
Rat Bite Fever (Streptobacillus moniliformis)
RBF is an infectious bacteria. Contrary to its name, RBF is found in more than just rats: mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and squirrels can also carry it. Infrequently in dogs, cats, ferrets, weasels, cattle, koalas, non-human primates, and turkeys, but it is not well documented. Symptoms appear within 3-10 days of infection but can take up to 3 weeks.
Symptoms include:
To prevent RBF, regularly wash your hands, wear protective gloves when washing cages, and avoid putting your hands in your mouth when handling your rats/cleaning cages.
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis/Salmonella is a common disease which most people associate with undercooked chicken. All common pets can carry salmonella in their digestive tract including: dogs, cats, rats, mice, rabbits, lizards, and snakes. Salmonella infection can occur in humans and the animals.
Symptoms for humans include:
Leptospirosis
This is a bacteria called leptospiria.
Symptoms include:
Seoul Strain of Hantavirus
Seoul Virus is a type of Hantavirus commonly associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Symptoms appear within 1-2 weeks and in rare cases up to 8 weeks.
Symptoms include:
- • Intense headaches
- • Back and abdominal pain
- • Fever
- • Chills
- • Nausea
- • Blurred vision
- • Later symptoms include low blood pressure, acute shock, vascular leakage, and acute renal failure. In rare cases, it can be fatal.
To prevent infection, wear a mask and gloves when cleaning cages, do not use a vacuum or sweep particles into the air, spray down any bedding before moving it, and wash your hands before and after handling your rat(s).
Rat Bite Fever (Streptobacillus moniliformis)
RBF is an infectious bacteria. Contrary to its name, RBF is found in more than just rats: mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and squirrels can also carry it. Infrequently in dogs, cats, ferrets, weasels, cattle, koalas, non-human primates, and turkeys, but it is not well documented. Symptoms appear within 3-10 days of infection but can take up to 3 weeks.
Symptoms include:
- • Fever
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Muscle pain
- • Joint pain
- • Rash
- • In rare cases without treatment, Rat Bite Fever can be fatal.
To prevent RBF, regularly wash your hands, wear protective gloves when washing cages, and avoid putting your hands in your mouth when handling your rats/cleaning cages.
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis/Salmonella is a common disease which most people associate with undercooked chicken. All common pets can carry salmonella in their digestive tract including: dogs, cats, rats, mice, rabbits, lizards, and snakes. Salmonella infection can occur in humans and the animals.
Symptoms for humans include:
- • Diarrhea
- • Vomiting
- • Fever
- • Abdominal pain
- • For the immune-compromised, the symptoms can be life threatening.
Leptospirosis
This is a bacteria called leptospiria.
Symptoms include:
- • High fever
- • Headache
- • Chills
- • Muscle aches
- • Vomiting
- • Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- • Red eyes
- • Abdominal pain
- • Diarrhea
- • Rash