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Dr.T.V.Rao MD
Rat-bite Fever (RBF)
Rat-bite fever (RBF) is an infectious disease that
can be caused by two different bacteria.
Streptobacillary RBF is caused by Streptobacillus
moniliformis in North America while spirillary RBF
or sodoku is caused by Spirillum minus and
occurs mostly in Asia. People usually get the
disease from infected rodents or consumption of
contaminated food or water..
disease spread
by infected
rodents and can
be caused by two
specific types of
bacteria.
Spirillum Minus
Short Gram negative spiral
organism3 – 5 microns
Stains with Giemsa stain
Dark field microscope
useful
Not cultured- Can be
isolated by inoculating the
specimen Intraperitoneally
into Mic
Geographic location of Rat
bite fevers
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Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms do not manifest for two to four
weeks after exposure to the organism,
and the wound through which it entered
exhibits slow healing and marked
inflammation. The fever lasts longer and
is recurring, for months in some cases.
Rectal pain and gastrointestinal
symptoms are less severe or are absent.
Penicillin is the most common treatment.
Streptobacillus
moniliformis
Symptoms depend on the
bacteria that caused the
infection. Symptoms due to
Streptobacillus
moniliformis may include:
Chills
Fever
Open sore at the site of the
bite
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Transmission
S. moniliformis and S. minus are part of the
normal respiratory flora of rodents. Either
organism may be transmitted to humans through
bites or scratches. Infection can also result from
handling an infected rodent (even with no
reported bite or scratch), or ingestion of food or
drink contaminated with these bacteria (Haverhill
fever). Rats are considered the natural reservoir
of RBF, but the bacterium has also been found in
other rodent species such as, mice and gerbils.
Person-to-person transmission has not been
reported.
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Pathogenesis
S.minus enters the
body through rat urine
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Avoid Contact with Rats
Improve conditions
to minimize rodent
contact with humans
is the best
preventative
measure for RBF.
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Prevention
Animal handlers, laboratory workers,
sanitation and sewer workers must take
special precautions against exposure. Wild
rodents, dead or alive, should not be touched
and pets must not be allowed to ingest
rodents. Those living in the inner cities where
overcrowding and poor sanitation cause
rodent problems are at risk for RBF. Half of all
cases reported are children under 12 living in
these conditions.
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Treatment
Responds to penicillin
antibiotics or where
allergic to this
erythromycin or
tetracycline's for
respectively
streptobacillary or
spirillary infections.
Programme Created by Dr.T.V.Rao
MD for Medical and Paramedical
students in the Developing world
Email
doctortvrao@gmail.com