Rat-bite fever (RBF) is an acute, febrile human illness caused by bacteria transmitted by rodents, in most cases, which is passed from rodent to human by the rodents urine or mucous secretions. Alternative names for rat-bite fever include streptobacillary fever, streptobacillosis, spirillary fever, bogger, and epidemic arthritic erythema. It is a rare disease spread by infected rodents and caused by two specific types of bacteria:

Streptobacillus moniliformis, the only reported bacteria that causes RBF in North America (streptobacillary RBF)
Spirillum minus, common in Asia (spirillary RBF, also known as sodoku). Most cases occur in Japan, but specific strains of the disease are present in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Africa.Some cases are diagnosed after patients were exposed to the urine or bodily secretions of an infected animal. These secretions can come from the mouth, nose, or eyes of the rodent. The majority of cases are due to the animals bite. It can also be transmitted through food or water contaminated with rat feces or urine. Other animals can be infected with this disease, including weasels, gerbils, and squirrels. Household pets such as dogs or cats exposed to these animals can also carry the disease and infect humans. If a person is bitten by a rodent, it is important to quickly wash and cleanse the wound area thoroughly with antiseptic solution to reduce the risk of infection. Symptoms and signs
Symptoms are different for every person depending on the type of rat-bite fever with which the person is infected.
In the United States it is estimated that children 5 years and younger are the most at risk, receiving 50% of the total exposure, followed by laboratory personnel and then pet store employees. Other groups at increased risk are people over 65 years old, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women.Symptoms of RBF include sudden high temperature fevers with rigors, vomiting, headaches, painful joints/arthritis. A red, bumpy rash develops in about 75% of subjects. Symptoms of RBF can develop between 3 days and 3 weeks after exposure. While symptoms differ between Streptobacillary and Spirillary RBF, both types exhibit an incubation period before symptoms manifest. Due to its symptoms, RBF is often misdiagnosed by clinicians, leading to lingering symptoms and worsening conditions in patients; left untreated the mortality rate (death rate) of RBF is 13%. Even when treated, RBF can lead to migratory polyarthralgia, persistent rash, and fatigue  which can persist for weeks to years after initial infection and treatment. See also
Pasteurellosis
List of cutaneous conditions
Zoonosis

References
Rat Bite Fever (RBF) | CDC

Further reading
"Rat-bite Fever (RBF)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 28 February 2014. Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) (January 2005). "Fatal rat-bite fever—Florida and Washington, 2003". MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 53 (51): 1198–202. PMID 15635289. Rat-bite fever (MyOptumHealth.com)
Tandon, R; Lee, M; Curran, E; Demierre, MF; Sulis, CA (Dec 15, 2006). "A 26-year-old woman with a rash on her extremities". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 43 (12): 1585–6, 1616–7. doi:10.1086/509574. PMID 17109293. Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) (Jun 8, 1984). "Rat-bite fever in a college student--California". MMWR.