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

Norlan De Jesus Santos,Mitermayer G Reis,Federico Costa,Erica Sousa,Albert I Ko

doi:10.1590/0102-311x00132115

Norlan De Jesus Santos, Mitermayer G Reis + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00132115

Copy DOI

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Leptospirosis, a disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, is acquired through contact with animal reservoirs or with a location contaminated by their urine 1
More prevalent active rodent signs identified between evaluated households were rodent burrows (79%), rodent runs (76%) and R. norvegicus feces (74%)
In conclusion, our findings showed that a high proportion (> 44%) of urban slum households are infested with R. norvegicus

Summary

Introduction

Leptospirosis, a disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, is acquired through contact with animal reservoirs or with a location contaminated by their urine 1. Urban leptospirosis is an important health problem that has emerged due to recent growth of slums 3. In these areas, leptospirosis affects communities where overcrowding, poverty, and the lack of basic sanitation services create conditions supporting leptospirosis transmission [4,5,6]. Leptospirosis affects communities where overcrowding, poverty, and the lack of basic sanitation services create conditions supporting leptospirosis transmission [4,5,6] Those areas are at risk of other rodent-borne transmission given that rats are carriers of Seoul Virus, Bartonella and other pathogens. Campaigns for rodent control, based on the use of chemical rodenticides, have been a major strategy for preventing urban leptospirosis 10. The lack of knowledge regarding the social and ecological determinants influencing rodent infestation in these settings has been a barrier to implement more effective rodent control [13,14,15,16]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion