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Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
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Rat bite fever: a misnomer?

Peter James Glasman1, Adrian Thuraisingam

  • 1Arrowe Park Hospital, Gastroenterology, c/o Dr Thuraisingam's Secretary, Arrowe Park Road, Upton, Merseyside CH49 5PE, UK.

BMJ Case Reports
|December 20, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Rat bite fever, caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, is a rare but potentially common zoonotic infection. Prompt antibiotic treatment leads to complete recovery and prevents serious complications like endocarditis.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Rat bite fever is a zoonotic disease transmitted from rodents to humans.
  • Streptobacillus moniliformis is the causative agent, often difficult to culture.
  • Human-rodent contact is frequent, suggesting underdiagnosis of this infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of rat bite fever in a young man.
  • To highlight diagnostic challenges and advancements.
  • To emphasize the importance of timely treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical case presentation of a young man with symptoms including fever, vomiting, joint pain, and abnormal liver function.
  • Review of patient's history for potential exposure to rodents.
  • Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
  • Mention of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a reliable diagnostic tool.

Main Results:

  • The patient recovered completely after antibiotic treatment.
  • The infection was linked to handling a dead rat, without a direct bite.
  • PCR testing facilitates reliable identification of Streptobacillus moniliformis.

Conclusions:

  • Rat bite fever is an underdiagnosed zoonotic infection.
  • Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy are crucial for patient recovery.
  • Advancements in molecular diagnostics like PCR improve detection rates.

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