Which disease has not been documented as transmitted from rats to humans in the United States?

Which disease has not been documented as transmitted from rats to humans in the United States?

• A. Rabies
• B. Plague
• C. Murine typhus fever
• D. Leptospirosis

Answer: (A)

Rats are known to carry several pathogens that humans can acquire: plague is transmitted through rat fleas that bite people, murine typhus is also spread by rat fleas, and leptospirosis can be contracted from contact with rat urine or contaminated water. Rabies, however, is not typically transmitted from rats in the United States. In the U.S., rabies transmission to humans is most commonly from bites of infected wildlife such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, not from rats. Therefore, rabies is the disease not documented as transmitted from rats to humans in the United States.

Rats are known to carry several pathogens that humans can acquire: plague is transmitted through rat fleas that bite people, murine typhus is also spread by rat fleas, and leptospirosis can be contracted from contact with rat urine or contaminated water. Rabies, however, is not typically transmitted from rats in the United States. In the U.S., rabies transmission to humans is most commonly from bites of infected wildlife such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, not from rats. Therefore, rabies is the disease not documented as transmitted from rats to humans in the United States.