Gerbil bite anaphylaxis

Household pets are well known to cause allergic symptoms in susceptible individuals, most commonly conjunctivitis, rhinitis, bronchospasm or urticaria. The increasing prevalence of exotic pets, including rodents, may introduce novel allergens into the household setting. We describe the case of a 16-year-old female who presented to the emergency department (ED) with an immediate systemic reaction consistent with anaphylaxis following a bite injury from a pet Mongolian gerbil. Although rare, gerbil bite injury represents another possible allergen source for precipitating a severe allergic reaction.