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Leptospirosis
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Leptospirosis is a disease is caused by spiral shaped bacteria called leptospires. It occurs worldwide and can affect humans as well as many wild and domestic animals, including dogs and cats. The disease can be serious for both humans and animals. In people, the symptoms are often like the flu, but sometimes leptospirosis can develop into a more severe, life-threatening illness (leptospiral jaundice, or Weil's Disease) with infections in the kidney, liver, brain, lung, and heart. (For more information on leptospirosis in humans, go to The Center for Disease Control.)
There have not been any reported cases of leptospirosis in fancy rats in the UK to date; however, should you decided to "adopt" an orphaned wild rat or one of your pet rats has come in contact with wild rats, it is a possibility.
How do people and animals get leptospirosis? The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. Humans and animals can become infected through contact with this contaminated urine (or other body fluids, except saliva), water, or soil. The bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth), especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection. Infected wild and domestic animals may continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment continuously or every once in a while for a few months up to several years. If your pet has become infected, it most likely came into contact with leptospires in the environment or infected animals.
What pet animals get leptospirosis? All animals can potentially become infected with leptospires, although cases of leptospirosis in cats are rare. That is why it is important to quarantine potentially infected animals from ALL pets, not just other pet rats.
What are the signs of leptospirosis in pets? The clinical signs of leptospirosis vary and are nonspecific. Sometimes pets do not have any symptoms. Common clinical signs reported in dogs include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, refusal to eat, severe weakness and depression, stiffness, severe muscle pain, or inability to have puppies. Generally younger animals are more seriously affected than older animals. Fancy rats may show, some, all, or none of these symptoms; the most commonly-reported symptom in American rats appears to be excessive thirst.
What should I do if I think my pet has leptospirosis? Contact your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian can perform tests to detect the presence of leptospiral antibodies or organism in your pet. If you have just adopted an orphaned wild rat, or rescued an escaped/abandoned rat, place the animal into immediate quarantine and start administering antibiotics, such as doxycyclin.
Is there a treatment for leptospirosis in pet animals? Yes, leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics. If an animal is treated early, it may recover more rapidly and any organ damage may be less severe. Other treatment methods, such as dialysis and hydration therapy may be required. The time between exposure to the bacteria and development of disease is usually 5 to 14 days, but can be as short as a few days or as long as 30 days or more. That is why you should quarantine for at LEAST 2 weeks, preferrably longer.
What should I do if I have been told my pet has leptospirosis? If your pet has been confirmed by your veterinarian as having leptospirosis, the appropriate action to take will depend on the nature of contact with your pet. Normal daily activities with your pet will not put you at high risk for leptospirosis infection. Types of contacts that are considered to be high risk include direct or indirect contact with urine, blood, and tissues of your pet during its infection. Assisting in the delivery of newborns from an infected animal is also considered a high-risk activity for transmission of leptospirosis. If you have had these types of high-risk contacts with your pet during the time of its infection, inform your physician. If common symptoms, such as fever, muscle aches, and headaches, occur within 3 weeks after a high-risk exposure, see your physician. Tests can be performed to see if you have this disease.
How can I protect myself and other people when my pet has leptospirosis? The primary mode of transmission of leptospirosis from pets to humans is through direct or indirect contact with contaminated animal tissues, organs, or urine. Always contact your veterinarian and your physician if you have concerns about a possible exposure to an infected animal. Do not handle or come in contact with urine, blood, or tissues from your infected pet before it has received proper treatment. If you need to have contact with animal tissues or urine, wear protective clothing, such as gloves and boots, especially if you are occupationally at risk (veterinarians, farm workers, and sewer workers). As a general rule, always wash your hands after handling your pet or anything that might have your pet's excrement on it. If you are cleaning surfaces that may be contaminated or have urine from an infected pet on them, use an antibacterial cleaning solution or a solution of 1 part household bleach in 10 parts water. Make sure that your infected pet takes all of its medicine and follow up with your veterinarian.
How can I prevent leptospirosis in my pet? Keep rodent problems (rats, mice, or other animal pests) under control. Rodents can carry and spread the bacteria. There is a vaccine for against leptospirosis; however it has not been licensed for use in pet rats; and the vaccine does not provide 100% protection. This is because there are many strains (types) of leptospires, and the vaccine does not provide immunity against all strains.
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Official NFRS Policy regarding Leptospirosis
Taken from The National Fancy Rat Society Rules and Show Regulations, section SR1, page 8 (April 1999):
"Any member who owns wild Rattus norvegicus will be barred from showing or selling any stock under NFRS auspices until they have had the wild rats' blood tested for leptospira antibodies. If any member is found to be keeping wild Rattus norvegicus and still showing and selling stock without having the wild rats tested, he shall be suspended forthwith."
This would also apply to any rats that are suspected of having come in contact with wild rats and which may be harbouring leptospirosis. Most other Societies will have similar rules or policies; please check with your Society's Show Secretary for clarification. If in doubt, stay away from shows until your veterinarian has certified that your stock is leptospirosis-free.
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