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- Old World monkeys (Macaca species): Bites may transmit herpes B virus (Herpesvirus simiae), which can cause CNS infections with high mortality rates.
- Seals, walruses, polar bears: Bites may cause a chronic suppurative infection known as seal finger, which is probably due to Mycoplasma species.
- Small rodents (and their predators): Bites may transmit rat-bite fever, caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis (in the United States) or Spirillum minor (in Asia).
- - Rat-bite fever occurs after the initial wound has healed, a feature distinguishing it from an acute bite-wound infection.
- - S. moniliformis infections manifest 3-10 days after the bite as fever, chills, myalgias, headache, and severe migratory arthralgias followed by a maculopapular rash involving the palms and soles. Disease can progress to metastatic abscesses, endocarditis, meningitis, and pneumonia.
- Haverhill fever is an S. moniliformis infection acquired from contaminated milk or drinking water and has manifestations similar to those described above.
- - S. minor infections cause local pain, purple swelling at the bite site, and associated lymphangitis and regional lymphadenopathy 1-4 weeks after the bite, with evolution into a nonspecific systemic illness.
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