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Fatal Streptobacillus moniliformis infection in a two-month-old infant
M A Sens1, E W Brown, L R Wilson
1Department of Pathology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Abstract:
Streptobacillus moniliformis is an uncommon human pathogen contracted from exposure to rodents. It usually produces a mild, protracted illness (rat-bite fever, Haverhill fever, erythema arthriticum epidemicum) that has either a favorable response to antibiotic therapy or spontaneously resolves. This report describes a fatal case of Streptobacillus moniliformis in an infant bitten by a wild rat. The autopsy findings included an interstitial pneumonia, fibrinous endocarditis, mild mononuclear meningitis, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, erythrophagocytosis, and sinusoidal mononuclear cell infiltrates in regional lymph nodes and the liver. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the autopsy pathology findings of this agent.
Insights
Streptobacillus moniliformis, a rare bacterial cause of rat-bite fever, can be fatal in infants. This case report details the autopsy findings, highlighting interstitial pneumonia and endocarditis in an infant infected by a wild rat bite.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Streptobacillus moniliformis is an uncommon bacterial pathogen responsible for rat-bite fever and Haverhill fever.
- Infections are typically mild and protracted, with a favorable prognosis or spontaneous resolution.
- Human contraction occurs through exposure to infected rodents.
Observation:
- A fatal case of Streptobacillus moniliformis infection in an infant following a wild rat bite is presented.
- The infant exhibited symptoms consistent with severe infection.
Findings:
- Autopsy revealed interstitial pneumonia, fibrinous endocarditis, and mild meningitis.
- Hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, erythrophagocytosis, and mononuclear cell infiltrates in the liver and lymph nodes were observed.
- This is the first report detailing the autopsy pathology of Streptobacillus moniliformis infection.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential severity of Streptobacillus moniliformis infections, particularly in vulnerable populations like infants.
- The detailed autopsy findings provide valuable insights into the pathological mechanisms of this rare zoonotic disease.
- Further research into the pathogenesis and treatment of severe Streptobacillus moniliformis infections is warranted.