Urban rats have been found to spread a deadly bacteria as they migrate within cities, posing a potential threat to human health. A recent six-year study conducted by researchers at Tufts University and their collaborators has shed light on this issue, revealing the transmission patterns of a bacteria known to cause leptospirosis, a life-threatening disease in humans.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease commonly found in rats, which can be transmitted through their urine into the environment. This contaminated environment then becomes a source of infection for humans, dogs, and other species. While the disease is more prevalent in tropical regions, the changing climate may lead to an increase in cases in colder regions as well.
In Boston, leptospirosis has been identified in local rat populations, with different strains of the bacteria moving around the city as rat groups migrate. The researchers, led by Marieke Rosenbaum, M.P.H., D.V.M., assistant professor at Tufts University, collaborated with experts from Northern Arizona University, the USDA, and the CDC to conduct genetic analysis on rat populations and confirm the link between rats and human leptospirosis cases.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, focused on tracking rats in Boston from 2016 to 2022 and testing them for leptospirosis. By analyzing DNA from rat kidney samples collected at various sites in the city, the researchers were able to identify the presence of Leptospira bacteria in a significant number of rats.
One of the key breakthroughs in the study was the development of a novel technique for culturing and sequencing the bacteria from rat kidneys. This method allowed researchers to obtain detailed genomic information about the different strains of leptospirosis present in rat populations, providing valuable insights into how the bacteria are transmitted among rats and within urban environments.
The researchers hope that these findings will inform rat control and public health efforts to mitigate the risk of human leptospirosis infections in urban settings. By understanding the genetic structure of rat populations and their migration patterns, it may be possible to implement more targeted pest control interventions to reduce the spread of the bacteria.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of monitoring and managing rat populations in urban areas to prevent the transmission of diseases like leptospirosis. By combining advanced molecular techniques with field research, researchers can gain a better understanding of how pathogens are spread among rats and humans, ultimately leading to more effective strategies for disease prevention and control.
