Active infection manifested by dyspnoea, rales, weight loss, anorexia, lameness due to arthritis. Suppurative bronchopneumonia, abscesses in lungs, liver, kidneys, subcutis and peritoneum. Streptobacillus moniliformis Commensal of the nasopharynx. Transmitted by rat bites, aerosols and fomites. Not known to cause natural disease in rats but causes 'rat bite' fever in man.
Vegetative form is an obligate intracellular parasite.
Spores survive for long periods and it appears that some withstand autoclaving as there is a high prevalence of seropositive animals in SPF-colonies overseas. Subclinical infection common in some countries. Situation in Australia unknown. Clinical disease in sucklings and weanlings. Watery diarrhoea and some deaths.