Rat-bite fever identified by polymerase chain reaction detection of Streptobacillus moniliformis DNA.

Abstract

A 74-year-old woman presented with erythema of the extremities, a high fever and arthralgia after being bitten by a rat. The patient was diagnosed as having rat-bite fever based on the symptoms and clinical course, as well as the polymerase chain reaction detection of Streptobacillus moniliformis DNA in the crust of the bite site. This is the first case to be diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction on a crusted skin lesion specimen. Although clinical symptoms initially remitted with minocycline therapy, they relapsed. Subsequent administration of piperacillin sodium resulted in complete disappearance of the high fever and arthralgia.

• Authors: Daiki Nakagomi, Nobuhiro Deguchi, Akiko Yagasaki, Kazutoshi Harada, Naotaka Shibagaki, Masanobu Kimura, Koichi Imaoka, Shinji Shimada
• Journal: The Journal of dermatology (J Dermatol) Vol. 35 Issue 10 Pg. 667-70 (Oct 2008) ISSN: 0385-2407 [Print] England
• PMID: 19017047 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Bacterial

Topics

• Aged
• DNA, Bacterial (analysis)
• Female
• Humans
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Rat-Bite Fever (diagnosis, microbiology)
• Skin (microbiology)
• Streptobacillus (genetics, isolation & purification)