Streptobacillus moniliformis Infection: Rat Bite Fever
Streptobacillus moniliformis is a Gram-negative, pleomorphic rod or filamentous commensal organism that inhabits the nasopharynx of rats. It may also be present in the blood and urine of infected animals.
Infection is common in wild rats and is rarely found in some populations of laboratory rats. Infection of pet rats has also been documented. It can be associated with opportunistic respiratory infections and can cause wound infections and abscesses. It has been found in bronchiolectatic abscesses of rats with chronic respiratory disease, in concert with M. pulmonis and CAR bacillus. Of particular concern is its pathogenicity in humans and mice. In humans, it is the cause of rat bite fever. There have been documented cases of systemic infections with mortality in children and in previously healthy adults. In human patients, clinical signs include maculopapular and pustular rash, fever, headache, and polyarthritis. Transmission may occur by bites, close contact with infected rats, or the inadvertent ingestion of rat excreta. A similar syndrome, called Haverill fever, has been associated with ingestion of rat-contaminated foodstuffs, particularly milk. Another commensal bacterium, Spirillum muris, has also been associated with rat bite fever (particularly in Asian countries). Laboratory rats should be monitored for infection by culture of blood or nasopharygeal swabs in appropriate media, serology, and/or PCR. Infected colonies should be depopulated because of zoonotic risk.
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