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Updated: Jun 26, 2025
Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
Published on: August 31, 2013
[Rat bite fever in children]
Stefanie J G Veenhuis1,2, Christel F M van der Donk3, Ben A Semmekrot1
1Canisius-Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis, Nijmegen. Afd. Kindergeneeskunde.
Background:
Worldwide, disease in children due to exposure to rats is increasing, also in the Netherlands. Not only the generally known pathogen Leptospira should be considered, also S. moniliformis, Yersinia pestis, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Hantavirus, Francisella tularensis and Pasteurella multocida are also known rat-associated zoonosis.
Case Description:
An 12-year-old boy visited the pediatrician with fever, headache and nausea, followed by generalized erythema and arthritis. The boy had a pet rat. The patient's blood culture was positive for S. moniliformis. The patient was treated with antibiotics and made a full recovery.
Conclusion:
Just like many rat-associated diseases have 'rat-bite fever' caused by S. moniliformis an nonspecific clinical presentation. It is not necessary to have had a rat bite, to develop rat-bite fever. Better awareness and knowledge about rat related diseases should contribute to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Which is of great importance because of increased morbidity and mortality associated to rat related diseases.
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