Zoonotic diseases are infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Rodents are significant carriers of zoonotic diseases, and they can spread these diseases through direct contact, bites, scratches, urine, faeces, saliva, and even indirectly through fleas, ticks, and mites. Here are some common zoonotic diseases associated with rodents:
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
- Cause: Hantaviruses
- Transmission: Inhalation of aerosolized urine, faeces, or saliva from infected rodents
- Symptoms: Fever, muscle aches, fatigue, shortness of breath, and severe respiratory distress
- Common Rodents: Deer mice, white-footed mice, cotton rats
Leptospirosis
- Cause: Leptospira bacteria
- Transmission: Direct contact with rodent urine-contaminated water, soil, or food
- Symptoms: Fever, muscle pain, headache, chills, vomiting, jaundice, kidney damage
- Common Rodents: Rats and mice
Plague
- Cause: Yersinia pestis bacteria
- Transmission: Flea bites from infected rodents or direct contact with infected animal tissue
- Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes (bubonic plague), fever, chills, weakness, pneumonia (if inhaled)
- Common Rodents: Rats, prairie dogs, ground squirrels
Salmonellosis
- Cause: Salmonella bacteria
- Transmission: Consuming food or water contaminated with rodent faeces
- Symptoms: Diarrhoea, fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting
- Common Rodents: Mice and rats
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
- Cause: Arenavirus (Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus)
- Transmission: Contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials
- Symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and in severe cases, meningitis
- Common Rodents: House mice
Rat-Bite Fever
- Cause: Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minus bacteria
- Transmission: Bites or scratches from infected rodents, contact with urine or secretions
- Symptoms: Fever, rash, joint pain, vomiting
- Common Rodents: Rats
Tularaemia
- Cause: bacteria
- Transmission: Bites from infected ticks or deer flies, handling infected rodents, inhalation
- Symptoms: Fever, skin ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, pneumonia-like symptoms
- Common Rodents: Mice, squirrels, voles
Arenaviruses (Lassa Fever & Others)
- Cause: Arenaviruses (Lassa virus, Junín virus, Machupo virus)
- Transmission: Inhalation of rodent droppings or urine-contaminated dust, direct contact
- Symptoms: Fever, weakness, hemorrhagic symptoms, organ failure (in severe cases)
- Common Rodents: Mastomys rats (Lassa fever), other wild rodents
Echinococcosis
- Cause: Echinococcus tapeworms
- Transmission: Consuming food or water contaminated with feces from infected rodents
- Symptoms: Liver cysts, lung cysts, abdominal pain, organ dysfunction
- Common Rodents: Wild rodents
Prevention Tips
- Avoid direct contact with rodents and their waste
- Seal homes to prevent rodent entry
- Store food properly and dispose of garbage correctly
- Use proper hygiene and protective gear when handling rodents or cleaning contaminated areas
- Control rodent populations with traps and pest management
Zoonotic diseases from birds are infections that can be transmitted from birds to humans. These diseases can spread through direct contact with birds, their droppings, respiratory secretions, or contaminated food, water, and surfaces. Some of the most common zoonotic diseases from birds include:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
- Cause: Influenza A viruses (e.g., H5N1, H7N9)
- Transmission: Direct contact with infected birds, their secretions, or contaminated surfaces.
- Symptoms in Humans: Fever, cough, sore throat, pneumonia, and in severe cases, respiratory failure.
Psittacosis (Parrot Fever)
- Cause: Chlamydia psittaci (a type of bacteria)
- Transmission: Inhalation of dried droppings, feather dust, or respiratory secretions from infected birds.
- Symptoms in Humans: Fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, cough, and pneumonia.
Salmonellosis
- Cause: Salmonella bacteria
- Transmission: Contact with bird droppings, contaminated food or water.
- Symptoms in Humans: Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea.
Cryptococcosis
- Cause: Cryptococcus neoformans (a fungus)
- Transmission: Inhalation of fungal spores found in bird droppings (especially from pigeons).
- Symptoms in Humans: Lung infection, meningitis (in immunocompromised individuals).
Histoplasmosis
- Cause: Histoplasma capsulatum (a fungus)
- Transmission: Inhalation of fungal spores from soil contaminated with bird droppings.
- Symptoms in Humans: Flu-like symptoms, cough, fever, chest pain, and in severe cases, lung infections.
Campylobacteriosis
- Cause: Campylobacter bacteria
- Transmission: Consumption of undercooked poultry or contaminated food/water.
- Symptoms in Humans: Diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea.
Newcastle Disease (Mild Form)
- Cause: Newcastle disease virus (NDV)
- Transmission: Contact with infected birds or their secretions.
- Symptoms in Humans: Mild flu-like symptoms, eye inflammation (conjunctivitis).
West Nile Virus
- Cause: West Nile virus (WNV)
- Transmission: Mosquito bites after feeding on infected birds.
- Symptoms in Humans: Fever, headache, muscle pain, and in severe cases, neurological complications.
Prevention Tips
- Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after handling birds or cleaning cages.
- Protective Gear:Wear masks and gloves when handling birds, especially sick ones.
- Proper Cooking:Ensure poultry and eggs are fully cooked.
- Ventilation:Avoid inhaling dust from bird droppings in enclosed spaces.
- Avoid Contact with Wild Birds Limit exposure to wild or sick birds.
Zoonotic diseases are infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Insects play a significant role as vectors, transmitting various zoonotic diseases. Here are some common zoonotic diseases spread by insects:
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
- Malaria – Caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.
- Dengue Fever – Caused by the dengue virus, spread by Aedes mosquitoes.
- Zika Virus – Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, linked to birth defects like microcephaly.
- Chikungunya – Caused by the chikungunya virus, spread by Aedes mosquitoes.
- West Nile Virus – A virus spread by Culex mosquitoes, causing fever and neurological issues.
- Yellow Fever – A viral disease spread by Aedes mosquitoes, affecting the liver and kidneys.
Tick-Borne Diseases
- Lyme Disease – Caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by Ixodes ticks (deer ticks).
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever – Caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, spread by Dermacentor ticks.
- Babesiosis – A malaria-like illness caused by Babesia parasites, transmitted by ticks.
- Ehrlichiosis – Bacterial disease caused by Ehrlichia species, spread by ticks.
- Anaplasmosis – Caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, transmitted by ticks.
Flea-Borne Diseases
- Plague – Caused by Yersinia pestis, transmitted by fleas from rodents.
- Murine Typhus – Caused by Rickettsia typhi, spread by fleas.
- Cat Scratch Disease – Caused by Bartonella henselae, transmitted through flea-infested cats.
Fly-Borne Diseases
- Leishmaniasis – Caused by Leishmania parasites, spread by sandflies.
- African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness) – Caused by Trypanosoma brucei, transmitted by tsetse flies.
- Loiasis (African Eye Worm) – Caused by Loa loa worms, spread by deer flies.
- Tularemia – Caused by Francisella tularensis, spread by deer flies and ticks.
When to get professional help?
You should consider calling a pro if you’ve tried some or all of the strategies listed but are still seeing signs of Fleas in your home a professional will know exactly where to look and how to remove the activity in a timely and safe way.
So, if you feel that it’s a task you cannot or do not want to undertake call Highland Pest Control for an obligation free quote