Rodent Surveillance

Rodents can spread many diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, or through rodent bites. Diseases carried by rodents can also be spread to humans indrectly, through ticks, mites, or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent.

Plague

Hantavirus

Two pairs of gloved hands - one pair of purple gloves and one pair of blue gloves) hold a small brown mouse and use tweezers to remove tiny parasites

Hantavirus Surveillance June 2018

District laboratory staff conducted a rodent survey for hantavirus with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) staff on June 4-5, 2018 in La Honda. Peromyscus truei (pinyon mice) and Peromyscus californicus (parasitic mice) were trapped and blood samples were taken for testing. Kidney samples from any mice with positive blood samples will also be tested by the CDPH to be used for a study of…

A small mouse that is dark brown on the back with a lighter-colored belly

Hantavirus Surveillance May 2018

19 deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were captured during the rodent survey. Blood from 4 of the 19 mice tested positive for hantavirus. The blood samples were tested at the CDPH laboratory. In addition, the mouse carcasses will be tested by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and positive samples will be used for a study of the geographical distribution of different hantavirus…

Rodent Disease Updates

Laboratory staff conducted three surveys of wild rodents in the months of July and August, 2017. The surveys took place in Montara on July 17th and 18th, at Water Dog Lake park in Belmont on August 15th and 16th and Eaton and Big Canyon parks in San Carlos on August 29th and 30th. Blood samples were taken from captured rodents by a subocular bleed with a microcapillary tube and ear punches were…

A white tray contains a woodrat lying down. A person with protective gear (Tyvek suit, face/airway protective mask, and purple gloves ducted taped around wrists to the Tyvek suit) uses tweezers to remove a tick from the rat's ear

Rodent-borne Disease Updates - 2107

Laboratory staff conducted two surveys of wild rodents in the month of June 2017. The surveys took place in Water Dog Lake park in Belmont on June 14th and 15th and Eaton and Big Canyon parks in San Carlos on June 20th and 21st. Blood samples were taken from captured rodents by a subocular bleed with a microcapillary tube and ear punches were also taken from the rodents. The blood and ear tissue…

A person with blue gloves and a white Tyvek suit holds a small brown and white mouse

Rodent-borne Disease Surveillance at San Bruno Mountain 2016

The District conducted two wild rodent disease surveys on San Bruno Mountain this year, and all test results have been received. Each survey consisted of 100 Sherman traps placed along trails, targeting wild mice. The first survey resulted in fifteen captured Peromyscus maniculatus mice and the second survey resulted in eleven captured P. maniculatus mice. The animals were tested for Hantavirus…

Hantavirus Surveillance May 2016

During May, District staff, in conjunction with the California Department of Public Health, trapped and tested rodents for Sin Nombre hantavirus in areas of Montara, CA. Each rodent was anesthetized, then measured and checked for parasites. Laboratory staff then drew blood for the hantavirus antibody test. After recovering from anesthesia, each rodent was carefully released at the exact location…

Three people in white Tyvek suits are around a table covered in white plastic. One person with blue gloves holds a small brown and white mouse very close to the camera.

Hantavirus Surveillance March 2016

On March 28th and 29th, 2016, District staff, in conjunction with the California Department of Public Health, trapped and tested rodents for Sin Nombre hantavirus at San Bruno Mountain State & County Park. Each rodent was anesthetized, then measured and checked for parasites. Laboratory staff then drew blood for the hantavirus antibody test. After recovering from anesthesia, each rodent was…

2014 Rodent-borne Disease Surveillance

On November 14th, 2014, District staff, in conjunction with the California Department of Public Health, trapped and tested rodents for Sin Nombre hantavirus at San Pedro Valley County Park. Staff set 100 traps and caught 26 rodents. Each rodent was anesthetized, then measured and checked for parasites. Laboratory staff then drew blood for the hantavirus antibody test. After recovering from…

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