Rat bite fever and Streptobacillus moniliformis

Clin Microbiol Rev. 2007 Jan;20(1):13-22. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00016-06.

Abstract

Rat bite fever, caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, is a systemic illness classically characterized by fever, rigors, and polyarthralgias. If left untreated, it carries a mortality rate of 10%. Unfortunately, its nonspecific initial presentation combined with difficulties in culturing its causative organism produces a significant risk of delay or failure in diagnosis. The increasing popularity of rats and other rodents as pets, together with the risk of invasive or fatal disease, demands increased attention to rat bite fever as a potential diagnosis. The clinical and biological features of rat bite fever and Streptobacillus moniliformis are reviewed, providing some distinguishing features to assist the clinician and microbiologist in diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bites and Stings / complications*
  • Bites and Stings / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Rat-Bite Fever / diagnosis
  • Rat-Bite Fever / drug therapy
  • Rat-Bite Fever / epidemiology
  • Rat-Bite Fever / microbiology*
  • Rats*
  • Streptobacillus / growth & development
  • Streptobacillus / pathogenicity*