Rat infestation associated with environmental deficiencies in an urban slum community with high risk of leptospirosis transmission

Santos, Norlan de Jesus; Sousa, Érica Patrícia Dias de; Reis, Mitermayer Galvão dos; Ko, Albert I.; Costa, Federico

doi:10.1590/0102-311x00132115

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…A survey carried out in 1529 dwellings in a low-income region of São Paulo (Brazil) showed an initial synanthropic rodent infestation rate of 40%, which was reduced to 14.4% after the implementation of sanitary education and pest control 13 . Similarly, in Pau de Lima (Bahia, Brazil), 62% of households (137/221) presented signs of active rodent infestations 14 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Synanthropic rodents as virus reservoirs and transmitters

Gravinatti

Barbosa

Soares

et al. 2020

Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.

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This review focuses on reports of hepatitis E virus, hantavirus, rotavirus, coronavirus, and arenavirus in synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, and Mus musculus) within urban environments. Despite their potential impact on human health, relatively few studies have addressed the monitoring of these viruses in rodents. Comprehensive control and preventive activities should include actions such as the elimination or reduction of rat and mouse populations, sanitary education, reduction of shelters for the animals, and restriction of the access of rodents to residences, water, and food supplies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Synanthropic rodents as virus reservoirs and transmitters

Gravinatti

Barbosa

Soares

et al. 2020

Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.

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“…While the health status of the Salvador rats is not known, a decreased disease burden in that population compared to Vancouver could account for a longer lifespan. Rats in Salvador and Vancouver exist in two highly disparate environments, and it may be the case that decreased infrastructure and sanitation in Salvador provides greater access to resources (Santos et al, 2017) and supports a longer lifespan in resident rats. Finally, although there are no coordinated ratcontrol programs in either city, many property and business owners in the DTES conduct lethal rat control (i.e., trapping and poisoning) on their own or through a pest control company, which may contribute to increased population turn over.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tails of Two Cities: Age and Wounding Are Associated With Carriage of Leptospira interrogans by Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Ecologically Distinct Urban Environments

et al. 2019

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Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease for which rats are the primary reservoir in urban environments. It is transmitted from rats to people via urine, and is responsible for significant human morbidity and mortality in under-resourced settings. To mitigate the risks posed to people, it is important to understand the ecology of the causative agent Leptospira interrogans. The overarching objective of this study was to compare L. interrogans carriage in urban Norway rats in two ecologically distinct urban environments. We trapped Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Vancouver, Canada (N = 525) and Salvador, Brazil (N = 433) to evaluate whether rat characteristics (i.e., sex, weight, sexual maturity, pregnancy, and the presence of wounds) and location of capture were associated with L. interrogans status. Using generalized linear mixed models to control for clustering by trapping location, we found a greater prevalence of L. interrogans in Salvador (79%) than in Vancouver (12%), and greater spatial heterogeneity in pathogen prevalence in Vancouver than in Salvador. In both locations, we found that older rats and rats with more bite wounds had greater odds of L. interrogans carriage, although wounding influenced pathogen status more for younger animals. Additionally, we found that juvenile rats in Salvador were more likely to leave the nest infected with L. interrogans than were rats in Vancouver, suggesting that potential differences in early-life transmission dynamics exist between the two locations. Together, these results elucidate both general L. interrogans ecology, as well as the importance of geographical location in determining transmission among rats.

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“…Humans can remain asymptomatic and disseminate Leptospira into the environment for up to 1 year . Leptospirosis is common to an array of tropical climates but also poses a risk to low socioeconomic populations in city areas …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 Leptospirosis is common to an array of tropical climates but also poses a risk to low socioeconomic populations in city areas. [5][6][7] Among symptomatic patients, one study suggests that the mortality rate for untreated leptospirosis ranges between 0% and 40% (median 2.2%). 8 However, the mortality rate for Weil's disease exceeds 10% and the mortality rate for spontaneous pulmonary hemorrhage exceeds 50%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%