What type of rat carries Lassa fever?
What type of rat carries Lassa fever?
The reservoir, or host, of Lassa virus is a rodent known as the “multimammate rat” (Mastomys natalensis). Once infected, this rodent is able to excrete virus in urine for an extended time period, maybe for the rest of its life.
What is a multi rodent?
Description. Multi mammate mice are an African species of mouse that make a great prey animals for Royal Pythons and other snakes. They are a little larger than regular mice and can help encourage a fussy snake to feed.
What is the meaning of Multimammate?
adjective. Zoology. Having several pairs of mammae; specifically designating rodents of the genus Mastomys (formerly included in Rattus or Praomys; family Muridae), found throughout most of Africa and having eight to ten pairs of teats, especially M.
What is the largest family of mammals?
Muridae
Muridae, (family Muridae), largest extant rodent family, indeed the largest of all mammalian families, encompassing more than 1,383 species of the “true” mice and rats.
How do you identify a Lassa rat?
Lassa fever is generally diagnosed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assays (ELISA). These detect IgM and IgG antibodies and Lassa antigens. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can also be used in the early stages of the disease.
Is there a cure for Lassa?
Lassa fever causes an approximate 5000 to 10,000 deaths annually in West Africa and cases have been imported into Europe and the Americas, challenging public health. Although Lassa virus was first described over 5 decades ago in 1969, no treatments or vaccines have been approved to treat or prevent infection.
Why is it called Multimammate rat?
It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. The Natal multimammate rat is the natural host of the Lassa fever virus….
| Natal multimammate mouse | |
|---|---|
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Mastomys |
| Species: | M. natalensis |
| Binomial name |
What do Multimammate mice eat?
Omnivorous – eats a complete rodent food supplemented by meal worms, fruit, vegetables. Larger than a normal mouse but a lot smaller than normal rats. Head and body is about 15cm with the tail about 11cm.
What was the first mammal on Earth?
morganucodontids
Deep in their bones, all mammals are related. The earliest known mammals were the morganucodontids, tiny shrew-size creatures that lived in the shadows of the dinosaurs 210 million years ago. They were one of several different mammal lineages that emerged around that time.
What is the fastest growing mammal?
#amazingfactsBlue Whale is the fastest growing mammal on the Earth. While Human is the slowest growing mammal on the Earth.
Do people survive Lassa fever?
Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival. About 80% of people who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms.
Can dogs get Lassa fever?
Asymptomatic Ebola infection in humans has also been observed during outbreaks (18) but is very rare. Although dogs can be asymptomatically infected, they may excrete infectious viral particles in urine, feces, and saliva for a short period before virus clearance, as observed experimentally in other animals.