rat-bite fever 
(rătbīt′)
(rătbīt′)n.
Either of two infectious diseases contractible from the bite of small rodents, especially rats, specifically:
a. A disease caused by the bacterium Streptobacillus moniliformis and characterized by skin inflammation, back and joint pains, headache, and vomiting.
b. A disease caused by the bacterium Spirillum minus and characterized by ulceration at the site of the bite, rash, and recurrent fever. In this subsense also called sodoku.