Streptobacillosis

**Definition:** A disease caused by an infection with the gram-negative bacteria Streptobacillus moniliformis. This disease is characterised by systemic illness with fever, chills, rash, and polyarthralgias. Transmission is commonly by direct contact through the bite or scratch of an infected rat. Confirmation is by identification of Streptobacillus in blood or joint samples.

**Long definition:** Streptobacillary rat-bite fever is a systemic zoonosis caused by the aerobic Gram-negative bacterium Streptobacillus moniliformis and is transmitted to humans through the bites and scratches of infected rats, and is associated with a morbilliform or purpuric rash of the extremities and frequently migratory polyarthralgia of the joints . Some people develop disseminated infections involving the lungs, heart or brain.

**Inclusions:** - Epidemic arthritic erythema - Haverhill fever - Streptobacillary rat-bite fever