Spirillary rat-bite fever

Definition

A rare bacterial zoonosis characterized by inflammation which appears at the site of a rat bite or scratch that becomes painful, indurated, edematous and may ulcerate. The inflammation is followed by fever, vomiting and chills and is associated with local lymphadenopathy. Spirillary rat-bite fever (RBF), also known as Sodoku (Japanese for so: rat and doku: poison), is caused by the Gram-negative bacillus Spirillum minus and is transmitted to humans through the bites and scratches of rats.