Abstract

A robovirus is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted by a rodent vector (i.e., "ro"dent "bo"rne).

Roboviruses mainly belong to the Arenaviridae and Hantaviridae family of viruses. Like arbovirus ("ar"thropod "bo"rne) and tibovirus ("ti"ck "bo"rne) the name refers to its method of transmission, known as its vector. This is distinguished from a clade, which groups around a common ancestor. Some scientists now refer to arbovirus and robovirus together with the term ArboRobo-virus.

Methods of Transmission

Rodent borne disease can be transmitted through different forms of contact such as rodent bites, scratches, urine, saliva, etc. Potential sites of contact with rodents include habitats such as barns, outbuildings, sheds, and dense urban areas. Transmission of disease through rodents can be spread to humans through direct handling and contact, or indirectly through rodents carrying the disease spread to ticks, mites, fleas (arboborne.

Methods of Transmission | Diseases Transmitted By Rodents | Viral Cause

One example of a robovirus is Hantavirus, which causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Humans can be infected with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome through direct contact with rodent drippings, saliva, or urine infected with strains of the virus. These components mix into the air and get transmitted when inhaled through airborne transmission.

Lassa virus from the "Arenaviridae" family causes Lassa Hemorrhagic fever and is also a robovirus transmitted by the rodent genus "Mastomys". The multimammate rat is able to excrete the virus in its urine and droppings. These rat are often found in the savannas and forests of Africa. When these rats scavenge and enter households this provides an outlet for direct contact transmission with humans. It has also been found that airborne transmission can occur by engaging in cleaning activities such as sweeping. In some areas of Africa, the Mastomys rodent is caught and used as a source of food. This process can also lead to transmission and infection.

Methods of Transmission | Diseases Transmitted By Rodents | Bacteria Cause

Rat-bite Fever (RBF) is an rodent borne disease caused by two types of bacteria, "Streptobacillus moniliformis", which is predominany in North America and "Spirillum minus", predominantly in Asia. Rat-bite fever is contacted by bites or scratches from an infected rodent, contaminated food or beverages with either bacteria, or by handling rodents with the disease, without necessariliy being bitten or scratched by the rodent.

Methods of Transmission | Diseases Indirectly Transmitted by Rats | Viral Cause

Colorado Tick Fever virus causes high fevers, chills, headache, fatigue and sometimes vomiting, skin rash, and abdominal pain. The virus is caused by a Rock Mountain wood tick ("Dermacentro Andersoni"). It is an arbovirus, but rodents serve as the reservoir. The tick is carried by five species of rodents: the least chipmunk (Eutamias minimus, Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richarsoni), deer mice (Peromyscus manipulates), the golden mantled squirrel (Spermophilus laterals), and the Uinta chipmunk ( Eutamias umbrinus). The infected tick will be carried by its rodent host and infect another host (animal or human) as it feeds.

Methods of Transmission | Diseases Indirectly Transmitted by Rats | Parasite Cause

Rodents can serve as the primary reservoir host of obligate intracellular protozoa from the genus "Leishmania". The resulting disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis, causes large skin lesions on the face, arms, and legs.

Methods of Transmission | Factors affecting Roboviruses

Rodent populations are affected by a number of diverse factors, including climactic conditions. Warmer winters and increased rainfall will make it more likely for rodent populations to survive, therefore increasing the number of rodent reservoirs for disease. Increased rainfall accompanied by flooding can also increase human to rodent contact Global climate change will affect the distribution and prevalence of roboviruses. Inadequate hygiene and sanitation, as seen in some European countries, also contribute to increase rodent populations and higher risks of rodent borne disease transmission.