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Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jan 2007Rat bite fever, caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, is a systemic illness classically characterized by fever, rigors, and polyarthralgias. If left untreated, it... (Review)
Review
Rat bite fever, caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, is a systemic illness classically characterized by fever, rigors, and polyarthralgias. If left untreated, it carries a mortality rate of 10%. Unfortunately, its nonspecific initial presentation combined with difficulties in culturing its causative organism produces a significant risk of delay or failure in diagnosis. The increasing popularity of rats and other rodents as pets, together with the risk of invasive or fatal disease, demands increased attention to rat bite fever as a potential diagnosis. The clinical and biological features of rat bite fever and Streptobacillus moniliformis are reviewed, providing some distinguishing features to assist the clinician and microbiologist in diagnosis.
Topics: Animals; Bites and Stings; Humans; Mice; Rat-Bite Fever; Rats; Streptobacillus
PubMed: 17223620
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00016-06 -
Rheumatology International Oct 2023Rat bite fever (RBF) is a rare infectious zoonotic disease caused by two bacterial species: the Gram-negative rod Streptobacillus moniliformis and the Gram-negative... (Review)
Review
Rat bite fever (RBF) is a rare infectious zoonotic disease caused by two bacterial species: the Gram-negative rod Streptobacillus moniliformis and the Gram-negative coiled rod Spirillum minus. The association between RBF and skin vasculitis and arthritis has been observed. The aim of this paper was to present a case of rat-bite fever with symptoms of skin vasculitis and arthritis, associated with high titers of ANCA antibodies and anti-endothelial cell antibodies suggestive of primary vasculitis. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, leading to significant improvement. Based on the presented case, we discuss the differential diagnosis of the signs and the role of infection in the induction of ANCA antibodies. We reviewed the English language literature for cases of RBF presenting with symptoms of vasculitis and/or antibody presence. A literature review was performed in PubMed and Google using the keywords "rat bite fever" AND "vasculitis", "systemic vasculitis", "ANCA", "antiendothelial antibodies". No cases of rat-bite fever with the presence of ANCA antibodies or AECA antibodies in its course have been described thus far. Rat bite fever is a rare disease with nonspecific symptoms. In its course, general weakness, intermittent fever, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and arthritis are reported. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of ANCA positivity associated with RBF.
Topics: Animals; Rats; Rat-Bite Fever; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Arthritis; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis
PubMed: 37450033
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05369-4 -
Virulence Aug 2016Rat bite fever (RBF), a worldwide occurring and most likely under-diagnosed zoonosis caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, represents the most prominent disease of... (Review)
Review
Rat bite fever (RBF), a worldwide occurring and most likely under-diagnosed zoonosis caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, represents the most prominent disease of Streptobacillus infections. Recently, novel members have been described, from which a reservoir in rats and other animal species and a zoonotic potential can be assumed. Despite regularly published case reports, diagnostics of RBF continues to represent a 'diagnostic dilemma', because the mostly applied 16S rRNA sequence analysis may be uncertain for proper pathogen identification. Virtually nothing is known regarding prevalence in humans and animal reservoirs. For a realistic assessment of the pathogen's spread, epidemiology and virulence traits, future studies should focus on the genomic background of Streptobacillus. Full genome sequence analyses of a representative collection of strains might facilitate to unequivocally identify and type isolates. Prevalence studies using selective enrichment mechanisms may also enable the isolation of novel strains and candidate species of this neglected group of microorganisms.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Fusobacterium Infections; Genes, Essential; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microscopy, Electron; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Rat-Bite Fever; Rats; Serology; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Streptobacillus; Zoonoses
PubMed: 27088660
DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1177694 -
The Science of the Total Environment Oct 2023Urban greening has benefits for both human and environmental health. However, urban greening might also have negative effects as the abundance of wild rats, which can...
Urban greening has benefits for both human and environmental health. However, urban greening might also have negative effects as the abundance of wild rats, which can host and spread a great diversity of zoonotic pathogens, increases with urban greenness. Studies on the effect of urban greening on rat-borne zoonotic pathogens are currently unavailable. Therefore, we investigated how urban greenness is associated with rat-borne zoonotic pathogen prevalence and diversity, and translated this to human disease hazard. We screened 412 wild rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) from three cities in the Netherlands for 18 different zoonotic pathogens: Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Spiroplasma spp., Streptobacillus moniliformis, Coxiella burnetii, Salmonella spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli, rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV), Seoul orthohantavirus, Cowpox virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia spp. We modelled the relationships between pathogen prevalence and diversity and urban greenness. We detected 13 different zoonotic pathogens. Rats from greener urban areas had a significantly higher prevalence of Bartonella spp. and Borrelia spp., and a significantly lower prevalence of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli and ratHEV. Rat age was positively correlated with pathogen diversity while greenness was not related to pathogen diversity. Additionally, Bartonella spp. occurrence was positively correlated with that of Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp. occurrence was also positively correlated with that of Rickettsia spp. Our results show an increased rat-borne zoonotic disease hazard in greener urban areas, which for most pathogens was driven by the increase in rat abundance rather than pathogen prevalence. This highlights the importance of keeping rat densities low and investigating the effects of urban greening on the exposure to zoonotic pathogens in order to make informed decisions and to take appropriate countermeasures preventing zoonotic diseases.
Topics: Animals; Rats; Humans; Escherichia coli; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Zoonoses
PubMed: 37392874
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165069 -
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association... Oct 2013
Topics: Adult; Animals; Drug Eruptions; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Rat-Bite Fever; Rats; Streptobacillus
PubMed: 23529964
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.121704 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Aug 2016
Topics: Amoxicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Arthralgia; Blood; Child, Preschool; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Ribosomal; Exanthema; Fever; Humans; Male; Microscopy; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Rat-Bite Fever; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology; Streptobacillus; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 27458277
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02058-14 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022Children with cerebral palsy (CP) present a higher prevalence and severity of caries. Although researchers have studied multiple risk factors for caries in CP, the role...
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) present a higher prevalence and severity of caries. Although researchers have studied multiple risk factors for caries in CP, the role of microorganisms in caries remains one of the critical factors worth exploring. In order to explore the differences in the supragingival plaque microbiota (SPM), supragingival plaque samples were collected from 55 CP children and 23 non-CP children for 16S rRNA sequencing. Distinct SPM composition was found between CP children with severe caries (CPCS) and non-CP children with severe caries (NCPCS). Further subanalysis was also done to identify if there were any differences in SPM among CP children with different degrees of caries, namely, caries-free (CPCF), mild to moderate caries (CPCM), and severe caries (CPCS). After selecting the top 15 most abundant species in all groups, we found that CPCS was significantly enriched for , , , , , , , , and compared to NCPCS. By comparing CPCF, CPCM, and CPCS, we found that the core caries-associated microbiota in CP children included , , , , and , while and r were dental health-associated microbiota in CP children. Alpha diversity analysis showed no significant difference between NCPCS and CPCS, but the latter had a much simpler core correlation network than that of NCPCS. Among CP children, CPCM and CPCF displayed lower bacterial diversity and simpler correlation networks than those of CPCS. In summary, the study showed the specific SPM characteristics of CPCS compared to NCPCS and revealed the core SPM in CP children with different severities of caries (CPCF, CPCM, and CPCS) and their correlation network. Hopefully, the study would shed light on better caries prevention and therapies for CP children. Findings from the current study offer exciting insights that warrant larger cohort studies inclusive of saliva and feces samples to investigate the potential pathogenic role of oral microbiota through the oral-gut-brain axis in CP children with caries.
Topics: Brain; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Humans; Microbiota; Mouth; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 35480234
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.814473 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Oct 2001Rat bite fever and Haverhill fever are caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis which is part of the natural oral flora of rats and other rodents. Fever accompanied by...
BACKGROUND
Rat bite fever and Haverhill fever are caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis which is part of the natural oral flora of rats and other rodents. Fever accompanied by headache, nausea and myalgia develops within ten days. Complications can be fatal.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A case of rat bite fever is described. A 48-year-old woman developed fever and malaise five days after being bitten by a pet rat. Two days later rash and arthritis in the hand and feet developed. Erythromycin was administered without effect. Ten days after the bite the patient was admitted to hospital and recovered after two weeks of intravenous penicillin therapy.
RESULTS
S moniliformis was isolated from blood culture. On admission CRP was 231, ESR 88, ASAT 87, ALAT 218 and gamma-GT 461. Laboratory results normalized after therapy.
INTERPRETATION
In cases of fever after rodent bites, S moniliformis infection should always be considered. Diagnosis is made by blood culture or cultivation from pus from the bite wound. First choice therapy is penicillin, or in case of intolerance, tetracycline.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Rat-Bite Fever; Rats; Streptobacillus
PubMed: 11757440
DOI: No ID Found -
The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine Jun 2021Rat-bite fever is an over-looked, global zoonotic disease that has a mortality rate of up to 13%, if untreated. Historically, this rat-borne disease has been attributed...
Rat-bite fever is an over-looked, global zoonotic disease that has a mortality rate of up to 13%, if untreated. Historically, this rat-borne disease has been attributed to one of two causative agents, or . Given the confirmed presence of multiple invasive host species, high rat densities in urban, informal human settlements and increasing reports of rat bites in South Africa, we undertook a retrospective assessment of in rats sampled from 16 urban sites, in Gauteng, the smallest but most populous Province in South Africa. Using a multi-gene PCR-sequencing approach, we confirmed presence in 50.9% of oral swabs from three rat species and the presence of two species, and . The two members of the cryptic species complex ( and ), which are morphologically indistinguishable from each other, had markedly different colonization rates. Whereas 48.6% of rats from this species complex were -positive, only 32.3% of were positive compared to 61.5% had an intermediate prevalence of 55.6%. Phylogenetic analysis of four gene regions (16S rRNA, , , ) identified two discrete lineages; occurred exclusively in , and was restricted to the two members of the species complex; this represents the first report of in . These results highlight a largely overlooked zoonotic threat posed by invasive rats and confirm the presence of two discrete and potentially host-specific lineages in South Africa.
Topics: Animals; Introduced Species; Phylogeny; Prevalence; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Rat-Bite Fever; Rats; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Streptobacillus
PubMed: 34211343
DOI: No ID Found