TY - JOUR
T1 - A survey of zoonotic pathogens carried by Norway rats in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
AU - Easterbrook, Jeaster D.
AU - Kaplan, J. B.
AU - Vanasco, N. B.
AU - Reeves, W. K.
AU - Purcell, R. H.
AU - Kosoy, M. Y.
AU - Glass, G. E.
AU - Watson, J.
AU - Klein, S. L.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) carry several zoonotic pathogens and because rats and humans live in close proximity in urban environments, there exists potential for transmission. To identify zoonotic agents carried by rats in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, we live-trapped 201 rats during 2005-2006 and screened them for a panel of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Antibodies against Seoul virus (57.7%), hepatitis E virus (HEV, 73.5%), Leptospira interrogans (65.3%), Bartonella elizabethae (34.1%), and Rickettsia typhi (7.0%) were detected in Norway rats. Endoparasites, including Calodium hepatica (87.9%) and Hymenolepis sp. (34.4%), and ectoparasites (13.9%, primarily Laelaps echidninus) also were present. The risk of human exposure to these pathogens is a significant public health concern. Because these pathogens cause non-specific and often self-limiting symptoms in humans, infection in human populations is probably underdiagnosed.
AB - Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) carry several zoonotic pathogens and because rats and humans live in close proximity in urban environments, there exists potential for transmission. To identify zoonotic agents carried by rats in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, we live-trapped 201 rats during 2005-2006 and screened them for a panel of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Antibodies against Seoul virus (57.7%), hepatitis E virus (HEV, 73.5%), Leptospira interrogans (65.3%), Bartonella elizabethae (34.1%), and Rickettsia typhi (7.0%) were detected in Norway rats. Endoparasites, including Calodium hepatica (87.9%) and Hymenolepis sp. (34.4%), and ectoparasites (13.9%, primarily Laelaps echidninus) also were present. The risk of human exposure to these pathogens is a significant public health concern. Because these pathogens cause non-specific and often self-limiting symptoms in humans, infection in human populations is probably underdiagnosed.
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U2 - 10.1017/S0950268806007746
DO - 10.1017/S0950268806007746
M3 - Article
C2 - 17224086
AN - SCOPUS:34548782952
SN - 0950-2688
VL - 135
SP - 1192
EP - 1199
JO - Epidemiology and infection
JF - Epidemiology and infection
IS - 7
ER -