Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus infection: Rat-bite fever

Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus are zoonotic bacteria that cause rat-bite fever (RBF), a zoonotic infection. The typical symptoms include relapsing fever, migratory polyarthritis, and an eruption of the skin that frequently impacts the extremities, particularly the palms and soles. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays or specialized culture conditions are required to detect RBF. RBF has been associated with endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, polyarteritis nodosa, meningitis, liver disease, nephritis, amnionitis, respiratory tract infections, and localized abscesses among other outcomes. When exposed to rodents, household pets like dogs or cats may transmit the illness, which can then infect humans. Consumption of feces through contaminated raw milk and water can potentially spread S. moniliformis. Penicillin antibiotic is the recommended treatment for confirmed or strongly suspected instances of RBF. In this review, we have presented an overview including etiology, clinical manifestations, transmission, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of RBF.

کلیدواژه ها:

Rat-bite fever ، Penicillin ، Streptobacillus moniliformis ، Spirillum minus ، Rodents