Fatal rat bite fever in a pet shop employee

Rat bite fever is a zoonotic disease that has been described in laboratory personnel as well as the general population.

A 24-year-old male pet shop employee contracted the disease through a minor superficial finger wound on a contaminated rat cage. The disease progressed from a flu-like illness to endocarditis involving first the aortic valve and then the mitral valve and septum. Despite aggressive therapy including two surgical procedures, the patient died from sepsis and multi-organ system failure 59 days after initial injury.

This is the first reported case of rat-bite fever (RBF) in a pet shop work setting.

Zoonotic infections may present a significant hazard to workers handling animals. Education on hazards of animal contact and other preventive measures are needed in small places of business like pet shops.