Rats are reservoirs for bacterial diseases that are pathogenic to man. Salmonellosis, especially Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium have been diagnosed in research and pet rats. Salmonellae are Gram-negative toxin-producing enteric bacteria that are transmitted through contact with infected feces. Rats are frequently asymptomatically infected, and rarely exhibit systemic infection. Definitive diagnosis of infection is provided by culture on selective media such as selenite, brilliant green and MacConkey agars, with subsequent serotyping of the isolate. Another zoonotic pathogen harbored by rats is the agent of rat bite or Haverhill fever. The most common etiologic agent is Streptobacillus moniliformis, and rats carry S. moniliformis asymptomatically in the nasopharynx. The bacterium is a Gram-negative pleomorphic rod which requires media supplemented with 20% serum or ascites fluid for cultivation. The incidence of infection of either of these agents in laboratory rats is rare. There is no information about the incidence of infections in pet rats.
Public Health Significance: Humans ingesting Salmonella
- contaminated food or water experience a transient diarrhea. Children
or immunosuppressed adults are susceptible to more serious clinical disease
from Salmonella infection. People infected with S. moniliformis
develop irregular recurrent fever with lymphadenopathy, petechial hemorrhages,
polyarthritis and endocarditis. Bacterial infections respond well to tetracycline
therapy.
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