Spirillum minus can cause a type of rat bite fever.
Synonym: sodoku ("rat poison")
Distribution: primarily Asia
The patient may or may not recollect being bitten by a rat.
Clinical features:
(1) ulcer at the site of the rat bite
(2) relapsing fever
(3) macular skin rash
(4) lymphangitis with regional lymphadenopathy
(5) chills and malaise
Laboratory features:
(1) negative cultures
(2) demonstration of a Campylobacter-like coiled Gram-negative bacterium
(3) leukocytosis
(4) false positive serologic tests for syphilis (RPR)
Complications may include:
(1) endocarditis or myocarditis
(2) hepatitis
(3) meningitis
(4) conjunctivitis
(5) epididymitis
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
ICD-10: ,