[Arthritis caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis: a case of fever induced by a rat bite]

A 54-year-old female had fever with chills, polyarthritis and diffuse rash. Anamnesis led to the suspicion of rat-bite fever. The etiology was confirmed when and organism which was identified as Streptobacillus moniliformis was isolated from articular fluid by means of gas chromatography of tissue fatty acids. In our opinion, this is the first case of that condition reported in this country. We review the literature, and we insist on the need to inform the microbiologist of the clinical suspicion to achieve the etiological diagnosis.