"Rat" - what is it, definition of the term
The common rodent of the genus Rattus is a medium‑sized, omnivorous mammal with a pointed snout, continuously growing incisors, and a tail roughly equal to body length; it thrives in urban and rural environments, inhabiting sewers, grain stores, and fields, and serves as a host for ectoparasites such as ticks, lice, fleas, and various insects that can transmit pathogens.
Detailed information
The brown and black varieties of the genus Rattus are medium‑sized rodents that inhabit urban, rural, and wild environments worldwide. Adult individuals weigh 150–500 g, possess a blunt snout, prominent incisors, and a tail roughly equal to body length. They are omnivorous, consuming grains, fruits, insects, and carrion, and display nocturnal foraging patterns.
Reproduction occurs year‑round in temperate zones; females reach sexual maturity at 5–6 weeks, produce litters of 5–12 pups, and can bear up to ten litters annually. Gestation lasts 21–23 days, and offspring are weaned by three weeks. High reproductive output contributes to rapid population growth under favorable conditions.
Rats serve as primary hosts for ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas, lice, and mites. These arthropods attach to the fur or skin, feed on blood, and may transmit bacterial, viral, or protozoan pathogens. Common ectoparasites include:
- Fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis): vectors of Yersinia pestis and murine typhus.
- Ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis spp.): carriers of Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp.
- Lice (Polyplax serrata): transmit Rickettsia and Bartonella bacteria.
- Mites (Ornithonyssus bacoti): cause dermatitis and can harbor Rickettsia.
Infestation intensity correlates with population density, grooming behavior, and environmental hygiene. Effective control measures combine habitat modification, baited anticoagulant rodenticides, and targeted ectoparasite treatments. Monitoring programs rely on live trapping, visual inspection for ectoparasites, and laboratory identification of pathogen presence.