Study: NYC Rats Carry Multiple Viruses
- 10 years ago
New York City was recently ranked fourth on the list of cities with the worst rat populations. Now researchers from Columbia University are the first to make a catalog of pathogens carried by an animal in New York City using DNA from city dwelling rats in Manhattan.
New York City was recently ranked fourth on the list of cities with the worst rat populations.
Now researchers from Columbia University cataloging pathogens carried by animal species in New York City specifically using DNA from Manhattan dwelling rats.
After baiting traps in four apartment buildings in the city, researchers were able to catch 133 Norway rats for the study.
The rats were then tested for various types of bacterial pathogens that cause illness in humans by analyzing DNA from their organ tissue, urine, blood, and feces.
According to the results of the study, there was evidence of E. coli, Salmonella, and C. difficile, along with Seoul hantavirus, which had never been found in New York City before.
Eighteen previously unknown species of pathogens were also found, including the closest known relative to human hepatitis C.
Cadhala Firth, the study's author, is quoted as saying: “New Yorkers are constantly exposed to rats and the pathogens they carry, perhaps more than any other animal. Despite this, we know very little about the impact they have on human health.”
Experts say they may be able to use the new pathogens for medical testing that could help treat hepatitis C in humans.
New York City was recently ranked fourth on the list of cities with the worst rat populations.
Now researchers from Columbia University cataloging pathogens carried by animal species in New York City specifically using DNA from Manhattan dwelling rats.
After baiting traps in four apartment buildings in the city, researchers were able to catch 133 Norway rats for the study.
The rats were then tested for various types of bacterial pathogens that cause illness in humans by analyzing DNA from their organ tissue, urine, blood, and feces.
According to the results of the study, there was evidence of E. coli, Salmonella, and C. difficile, along with Seoul hantavirus, which had never been found in New York City before.
Eighteen previously unknown species of pathogens were also found, including the closest known relative to human hepatitis C.
Cadhala Firth, the study's author, is quoted as saying: “New Yorkers are constantly exposed to rats and the pathogens they carry, perhaps more than any other animal. Despite this, we know very little about the impact they have on human health.”
Experts say they may be able to use the new pathogens for medical testing that could help treat hepatitis C in humans.