The scene? Urban Boston where One Health researchers sought to better understand the risks from leptospirosis. Rats, being typically asymptomatic carriers of leptospirosis, can be an important source of exposure to humans (and pets) in urban environments. Since the organism is shed in the urine, common methods of exposure include direct contact with rat urine or with environments contaminated with it.
Source: AAHA Trends, August 4, 2025. Link.
One major takeaway from this research is that efforts to eradicate rat infestations, while well-meaning, are often ineffective and could result in the transmission of new leptospirosis strains from one rat subpopulation to another.” – Marieke Rosenbaum, DVM, MPH, MS
Image: Link.