Streptobacillus moniliformis is a gram-negative bacterium of the family Leptotrichiaceae. It can cause the disease commonly referred to as Rat Bite Fever in humans. The natural host for this bacterium is rats, who will carry the disease in their respiratory tract and middle ear and often show no symptoms. The disease can then be transmitted via aerosols, fomites, or saliva to mice, humans, guinea pigs, and others. Early infection in mice can cause septic lymphadenitis and death. Prolonged cases in surviving mice can result in chronic polyarthritis. In humans, infection causes fever, rash, and polyarthralgias and untreated cases can result in patient death.
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