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SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Streptobacillus moniliformis
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Streptobacilliosis, Streptobacillary fever, Haverhill fever, Epidemic arthritic
erythema; Rat-bite fever due to Streptobacillus moniliformis.
CHARACTERISTICS: Non-encapsulated, non-motile, gram-negative bacillus, 0.3-0.7 um by 1-5 um in length; organism
frequently occurs in chains and filaments; often pleomorphic and produces a series of bulbous swelling; facultative
anaerobe.
SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Abrupt onset of fever, chills, vomiting, headache and severe pains in the joints; a maculopapular
rash develops within the first 48 hours and involves the palms, soles and extremities; acute arthritis is a characteristic
and persistent symptom; multiple abscesses in many organs is typical of the severe form of the disease .
EPIDEMIOLOGY: World wide; uncommon in North and South America and most European countries; cases in USA
were mostly due to exposure to laboratory rats.
HOST RANGE: Humans, rats.
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By direct contact with secretions of the mouth, nose, eye of an infected animal; animal
bite; contaminated milk has been suspected as the vehicle of infection in an outbreak.
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 3-10 days.
COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmitted from person-to-person.
SECTION III - DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Rats.
ZOONOSIS: Yes - disease acquired from rats.
VECTORS: None.
SECTION IV - VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to penicillin, tetracycline.
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 70% ethanol, 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach),
2% glutaraldehyde.
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Heating at 121o C for 15 minutes.
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives up to 10 days at 4o C.
SECTION V - MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms-, confirm by bacterial isolation and serological tests.
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy, typically penicillin.
IMMUNIZATION: None available.
PROPHYLAXIS: None available.
SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Twenty-one cases were reported up to 1987; most were acquired by rat
bites.
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, Joint fluid, or pus.
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; droplet exposure of the mucous membranes.
SPECIAL HAZARDS: Droplet generation by secretions of mouth, nose or conjunctival sac when working with infected
animals.
SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving
bacterial cultures and potentially infectious body tissues or fluids.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious material is unavoidable.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None.
SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle- wearing protective clothing, cover the spill with absorbent paper and
apply 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach), starting at the perimeter and working towards the center;
allow sufficient contact time (30 minutes) before clean up.
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration.
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labeled.
Date prepared: September, 1996 Prepared by: Canadian Office of Biosafety Information edited by the Colorado State
University Office of Biosafety- June 16, 1998.
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