What illnesses can be contracted from a rat bite? - briefly
Rat bites may transmit bacterial infections including rat‑bite fever (Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minus), plague, leptospirosis, tularemia, and salmonellosis. Viral agents such as hantavirus can also be acquired, though transmission is rare.
What illnesses can be contracted from a rat bite? - in detail
Rat bites can introduce a range of pathogens directly into the bloodstream or surrounding tissue. The most frequently reported infections are bacterial, but viral and parasitic agents have also been documented.
- Streptobacillus moniliformis infection (rat‑bite fever) – acute fever, chills, rash, polyarthritis; incubation 2–10 days; treated with penicillin or doxycycline.
- Spirillum minus infection (sodoku disease) – fever, ulcerated wound, lymphadenopathy; incubation up to 2 weeks; responsive to tetracyclines.
- Leptospira interrogans – leptospirosis presenting with fever, myalgia, jaundice, renal impairment; incubation 5–14 days; doxycycline or intravenous penicillin recommended.
- Salmonella spp. – gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, possible bacteremia; incubation 6–72 hours; fluoroquinolones or third‑generation cephalosporins used.
- Clostridium tetani – tetanus with muscle rigidity and spasms; incubation variable; prophylactic tetanus toxoid or immune globulin required.
- Yersinia pestis – plague, rare from bites, causes buboes, fever, septicemia; incubation 2–6 days; streptomycin or gentamicin therapy.
- Rabies virus – extremely uncommon in rodents, but possible if the animal is infected; encephalitic disease with near‑100 % fatality; post‑exposure prophylaxis with vaccine and immunoglobulin essential.
- Hantavirus – primarily aerosol transmission, yet documented cases via bite; may lead to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; supportive care is mainstay.
Secondary wound infection by skin flora (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes) is also common, leading to cellulitis or abscess formation; empirical coverage with a beta‑lactam antibiotic is standard.
Prompt wound cleansing, thorough debridement, and assessment of tetanus immunization status reduce the risk of severe outcomes. Laboratory testing (blood cultures, serology, PCR) should be ordered based on clinical presentation to identify the specific pathogen and guide targeted antimicrobial therapy.