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

Abstract

We analyzed environmental factors that provide food, water and harborage to rodents and the risk of household rodent infestation in a slum community with a high risk of leptospirosis transmission. Detailed environmental surveys were performed in 221 households. Multivariate regression models evaluated the association between rodent infestation and socioeconomic status and environmental attributes obtained from Geographical Information System surveys. The general household infestation rate was 45.9%. Rattus norvegicus signs were the most prevalent, present in 74% of the infested households. The risk for rodent infestation was associated with environmental factors supporting harborage for rats, such as dilapidated fences/walls (OR: 8.95; 95%CI: 2.42-33.12) and households built on an earthen slope (OR: 4.68; 95%CI: 2.23-9.81). An increase of 1 meter from the nearest sewer was associated with a 3% (95%CI: 1%-5%) decrease in the risk of rodent infestation. A lack of sanitation where poor people live provides factors for rat infestation and could the target of educational interventions.

De-urbanization and Zoonotic Disease Risk

“…Neglected anthropogenic habitats may also support reservoir host populations that harbor directly-transmitted pathogens. For example, rodents, which represent important urban reservoir hosts, are known to prefer habitats with unkempt vegetation, organic debris, and litter (Battersby et al 2002; Traweger et al 2006; Johnson et al 2016; Santos et al 2017). Open, vacant land use types, which can result from de-urbanization, are particularly attractive to these species (Battersby et al 2002; Johnson et al 2016).…”

Leptospirosis as an unusual culprit of acute pancreatitis and portal vein thrombosis in a New Yorker

“…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 …”

Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in urban Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations: Epidemiology and the impacts of kill‐trapping

“…This could influence the pathways by which MRSA is transmitted among rats, though it is unknown whether fecal transmission occurs. From a public health perspective, fecal shedding of MRSA by rats may increase the risk of zoonotic transmission, as fecal‐contamination of the environment may not be unusual in urban settings (Himsworth et al, ; Santos et al, ). It is important to note that, because of the difficultly in collecting fresh‐uncontaminated feces, we used rectal‐swabs as a proxy for fecal shedding.…”