Every so often a study like this comes around about New York City inhabitants that can't be passed up.
In a report in the Oxford Press the Entomological Society of America did a study of the Norway Rat (Rattus Norvegious). They studied whatever fleas, insects, and anything else the rat may be carrying as to how they might effect any human life the rats may come in contact with.
All told 133 Norway Rats were collected over 10 months in Manhattan (not the Bronx). 72 were male rats and 61 were female that were further broken down into 3 age groups, The youngest were Juveniles, next were sub-adult, and adult rats. The rats were collected from three residential sites (57), one outdoor site (26), and one mixed use indoor site (50).
The report goes on to say that in all but one rat there were fleas or other potential disease carrying ectoparsites. To read the entire Entomological Society of America report click on the Manhattan Norway Rat Study, but you had better not have a weak stomach.
