Rodents

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This image depicts a black rat, Rattus rattus, which is one of the amplification hosts associated with the spread of black death, or plague. Rats infected with the plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis, host fleas, which ingest the rat’s infected blood, in turn themselves becoming infected. If these fleas then bite a human being in order to obtain another blood meal, they transfer these bacteria, thereby, infecting the human with plague.

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Rodents

This image depicts a black rat, Rattus rattus, which is one of the amplification hosts associated with the spread of black death, or plague. Rats infected with the plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis, host fleas, which ingest the rat’s infected blood, in turn themselves becoming infected. If these fleas then bite a human being in order to obtain another blood meal, they transfer these bacteria, thereby, infecting the human with plague.

Rodents such as rats and mice are associated with a number of health risks and are known to spread more than 35 diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly through bites, handling of live or dead rodents and contact with rodent feces, urine or saliva. Diseases carried by rodents can also be spread to humans indirectly through fleas, ticks or mites that have fed on an infected rodent.

The primary department at AFRIMS involved with this research is Entomology. Click here to partner with us.