Can Rats Cause Pneumonia in Humans?

In addition to their ability to cause pneumonia, rats can also cause other infections, including suppurative arthritis and hepatitis. These infections can be transferred through aerosolisation and sneezing and can be transmitted from mother to child via a female rat. Some of these infections are caused by Mycoplasma, a bacteria that is an inhabitant of the rat’s respiratory tract. It is triggered by a variety of factors, including stress and the presence of other respiratory illnesses. This organism is capable of spreading to other organs, including the pericardium and pleura.

There are several medications for respiratory diseases in rats, including antibiotics. These drugs target bacteria and reduce inflammation in the airways. In addition, they may include mucolytics, which break up excess mucous. These drugs are usually prescribed in combination, but sometimes one agent is not enough. In many cases, the respiratory disease in rats is chronic, and treatment is designed to help it clear up and not recur.

The most reliable way to detect P. carinii infection in mice is necropsy, and special staining methods may be used to visualize the bacteria in diseased lungs. Mice with severe combined immunodeficiency or athymic conditions lack significant antibody responses to the organism. Therefore, serologic tests are not helpful in detecting the infection.

Continue reading:

Is Rat Meat Safe to Eat? Is Keeping Rats As Pets Illegal in Alberta? Why Does a Rat Squeak? Which City Has the Biggest Rats? Which Rats Detect Omicron? Where Did Rats Originally Come From? What Does it Mean When Rats Lick You? What Should You Feed Rats?