Do They Have Diseases? Yes, possums carry some diseases which can be passed to humans through skin-to-fur contact or contact with their faeces. They also carry mites, ticks and other parasites, and bacterial infections such as ulcers.
Tularaemia is a rare bacterial disease that is usually acquired from handling infected animals, bites of infected ticks or deer flies or from contaminated food or water. In Australia, ringtail possums have been associated with human infection and other wildlife may carry the disease.
Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Opossums are hosts for cat and dog fleas, especially in urban environments.
Wobbly possum disease and WPDV have been described in brushtail possums in NZ. Recent cases in BTP in Tasmania, consistent with WPD, have been linked to a similar nidovirus. The syndrome of “wobbly possum” (unconfirmed aetiology) has been described in BTP in the eastern areas of mainland Australia.
It's extraordinarily rare for humans or pets to catch diseases, especially viruses, from opossums. With that being said, it's a good idea to use common sense and proper hygiene around any wild animal, because even the “cleanest” wild animals carry bacteria and parasites in their poo and on their fur.
The danger with possums comes in the form of transmitted diseases. North American opossums are known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever and tularemia, according to Critter Control. It's advisable not to touch these critters.
Opossums become dangerous with their ability to transmit diseases to pets and people(Opens in a new window). Known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases, pesky creatures pose serious health threats when they invade urban environments.
Handle with care
Remember: brush-tailed possums are wild animals and although they look cute and cuddly they can bite and scratch severely, especially when injured or afraid. Wear protective gloves or restrain the possum in a blanket or towel if you need to handle it.
Many mammals carry the Leptospira bacteria without showing symptoms of the disease. In Australia, this includes livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer), pets (dogs, horses, cats), wildlife (native animals, such as possums) and pests (rats and mice).
Wobbly Possum Disease is a fatal neurological condition of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), first reported in 1995. Symptoms include a stumbling gait, tremors, blindness, activity during the daytime, and falling from trees. The disease is believed to be caused by a virus.
The diagnosis of leptospirosis should be considered in any patient presenting with an abrupt onset of fever, chills, conjunctival suffusion, headache, myalgia and jaundice. History of occupational or recreational exposure to infected animals or to an environment potentially contaminated with animal urine.
As a homeowner, you may see opossums as unwanted pests, but they can also be helpful critters. On one hand, having opossums around can be beneficial because they are known to eat harmful insects and annoying pests such as cockroaches, rats and snakes.
Opossums do not harbor diseases normally found in dogs and cats, such as distemper, parvovirus, or feline hepatitis. All warm-blooded mammals can contract rabies, but opossums are rarely found to be rabid. Scientists believe that a body temperature too low to support the rabies virus is the reason.
The animals that commonly develop or spread leptospirosis include: Rodents. Raccoons. Opossums.
Possums are Australian marsupials protected by the law. That doesn't make them any less of a pest. It merely makes them a pest that's a nuisance to deal with. Hurting or capturing a possum is illegal, and it can land you a huge fine.
Opossums are most dangerous because they can potentially transmit diseases to pets and people. Their body temperatures and high immunity make it rare for an opossum to have the rabies virus, but they often host parasites like fleas and disease. Opossums can carry diseases such as: Tuberculosis.
Although leptospirosis is relatively rare in Australia, it is more common in warm and moist regions such as north-eastern NSW and Queensland. Because there are many different strains of Leptospira bacteria, it is possible for someone to be infected with another strain and develop leptospirosis again.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection in humans caused by the Leptospira bacterium. Possum feces and urine have a high concentration of these bacteria. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic illness that infects people when they come into contact with possum excrement or urine via a cut or open wound.
How does leptospirosis spread? It starts with an infected animal such as a rodent, cow, horse, sheep, pig, dog, possum or bandicoot. These animals can pass the infection on through their urine, or in infected tissue after they die. People come in contact with the bacterium in soil, mud or flood waters.
It is definitely not recommended to handle opossums with bare hands. In case you want to catch them by hand, always wear a pair of gloves. However, even if you handle them with bare hands or with gloves, thoroughly wash your hands after you handle any opossum.
Opossum are generally not aggressive and when approached will often react like a startled cat. It will bristle its fur, open its mouth widely, show its teeth, hiss, and begin to drool excessively. This pose is intended to intimidate so you will leave it alone. We see this defense mechanism even in baby opossum.
Mixing either peppermint oil, ammonia, cayenne pepper, hot sauce or garlic with water in a spray bottle and misting it in possum-prone areas can be effective home remedies.
You must wash the bite with soap and water thoroughly. Make sure that antiseptic is applied. If you begin to notice inflammation or swelling, you should seek medical help immediately. While opossums are not normally the carriers of rabies, it is possible that you could become ill due to a bacterial infection.
Brushtail possums are nocturnal, so they generally look for food between dusk and dawn. Possums are territorial and urinate and excrete body oils to mark their territories. They are not always aggressive and will often just stare at each other with erect ears when defending their territories.