MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

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 µm by 1-5 µm in length, morphologically variable; organism frequently occurs in chains and filaments; often pleomorphic; facultative anaerobe

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Abrupt onset of fever, chills, vomiting, headache and severe pains in the joints; a maculopapular, petichial, or purulent rash develops within the first 48 hours and involves the palms, soles and extremities; acute arthritis is a characteristic and persistent symptom occurring in 50% of cases, relapses may occur; endocarditis, pericarditis, tenosynovitis and focal abscesses are typical in the severe form of the disease

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; 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, other animals squirrels, weasels, gerbils

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By direct contact with secretions of the mouth, nose, eye of an infected animal; animal bite; consumption of contaminated food or water

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, 2% glutaraldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Heating at 121° C for 15 minutes

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives up to 10 days at 4° C

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by bacterial culture and biochemical tests

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: Rat bites should be properly cleaned and tetanus shot should be administered

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, 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 labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: April, 2001

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001

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