Mycroplasma contagious?

Question

Quite honestly, Im sick of talking about this condition, but would really love a defenite answer!!! I got three baby rats at the start of this year, all with the virus/bacteria/condition. One was sneezing right from the outset, and she passed away a couple of days ago. Another suddenly contracted pnemonia and died after we had her only a few weeks, and the last one is still hanging on with relatively mild symptoms. My vet has told me that putting another rat in the cage with her to keep her company would be a death sentence for them, as this condition is highly contagious, and yet the breeders I have been in contact with have told me that nearly all rats are born with this condition, and whether or not it develops is due to the strength of their immune system, or a stressful event that may set it off.

I want to know which one is right!?

Basically, is it safe to put another rat in with my sick Daisy, or will they become ill and die as a result?

Answer 1

Mycoplasma is a chronic, not an acute illness. That means that it stresses the respiratory system over a long period of time, makes your rat more prone to respiratory infection, and slowly damages the lungs. It does not cause an abrupt decline such as the one you describe here. Most rats have myco unless they have been specifically bred in lab conditions.

What you are describing is an acute disease process. There may be myco involved but there is something else going on. If your rats got ill that precipitously and died despite vet care, it is simply not worth exposing another rat and having the same happen. I would listen to your vet since he is trained in medical matters and has examined Daisy (and presumably the other rats you lost). A breeder is far less qualified to assess the situation, despite the fact that in a sense, they are telling you what you would prefer to hear. When Daisy is symptom-free, consult with your vet again about a possible introduction.

Something you might want to look into is whether you have toxic mold in your home or apartment. 2 years ago I moved into an apartment and my rats started dying of galloping pneumonia - no preceding upper respiratory symptoms and the illness did not respond to any of the antibiotic cocktails we tried. Lab results showed that the infection was sterile, meaning it was autoimmune and caused by the mold. (Needless to say, I now live elsewhere!) The mold spores are not expelled from the lungs and can lead to death in a relatively short period of time and the symptoms are like an acute viral or bacterial infection except that the rats did not respond to treatment. Mold can be in the walls or under the carpet (i.e. not immediately visible) and it is something to keep in mind.