Mites info

[RachelW]

Hello oh wise ratty keepers!!


I recently helped out transporting some rats from London to Southampton as they were being rehomed. They were gorgeous rusting agouti girls, very friendly and loads of fun. They stayed with us for a week between leaving their owner and going to their new home.

I kept them in a different cage in a different room, away from my other rats. We weren't planning to intro so it made sense to keep them apart.

They did, however, play in the same places but at different times, usually one group in the morning and the other in the evenings. And I did handle them both, often wearing the same clothes as when I'd handled the others.

Since dropping the agoutis off at their new home I have heard that they have mites. Thinking about it, one of them had a few scabs when she arrived so I should have noticed 

What are the chances that mine have them? How are mites transferred? Can humans get them? (they played on the bed a few times) Any info/experiences gratefully read!!!

Rach

[squeaky]

Most vets now believe all rats have mites. Those rats which are ill, stressed or have compromised immune systems will have problems with them.
I'd guess all the moving around has taken it's toll on those girls, hence the mite problem.
I wouldn't worry about your own unless they show signs of having them though.

Lice are a different matter, they can be transfered from rat to rat and via clothing (although they are species specific and won't live long when not on the rat). You'll be able to see those in the fur if you give them all a good inspection.

[scout]

Nope, humans can't get rat mites. You can always treat your crew with ivermectin to be on the safe side. I don't know how you go about getting it in the UK, so hopefully someone will reply who knows.

[ckhs]

Your rats have the mites they may just not being showing symptoms. If the rats played in the same area and you handled both without percautions they could have been tranfered by you or just from being in the same play place. They are species specific so no worries for you. I think i would just treat with ivermectin anyway and bleach everything just to be on the safe side.

[squeaky]

Ivermectin is only available via prescription here, except for the horse paste (but having seen the size of the tube I wouldn't go that route!! ).
If you have a cat or dog you can buy Advantage etc (only from your own vet though) and treat that way.

A lot of vets here won't treat rats for mites if they aren't showing symptoms. Often you will take along the affected rat and be advised not to treat cage mates unless they begin to show symptoms.
I've had that happen a few times and it has never been a problem, the itchy rat has responded to treatment and everyone else has stayed the same.
(With lice you'd be advised to treat everyone though).