rat-bite fever

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun Either of two infectious diseases contractible from the bite of a rat, specifically.
• noun A disease caused by the bacterium Streptobacillus moniliformis and characterized by skin inflammation, back and joint pains, headache, and vomiting.
• noun A disease caused by the bacterium Spirillum minus and characterized by ulceration at the site of the bite, a purplish rash, and recurrent fever.