Rat-bite fever

Rat-bite fever (RBF) is an acute, febrile human illness caused by bacteria transmitted by rodents, in most cases, which is passed from rodent to human by the rodent's urine or mucous secretions. Alternative names for rat-bite fever include streptobacillary fever, streptobacillosis, spirillary fever, bogger, and epidemic arthritic erythema. It is a rare disease spread by infected rodents and caused by two specific types of bacteria:Streptobacillus moniliformis, the only reported bacteria that causes RBF in North America Spirillum minus, common in Asia. Most cases occur in Japan, but specific strains of the disease are present in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Africa.

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