- Gram (-) cocci
- Positive for
- Catalase
- Oxidase
- Superoxol (Neisseria)
- Glucose fermenters exc. For Moraxella (asaccharolytic)
- Gonorrhea
- Flow of seeds
- “Clap” – “clapoir” (French) – brothel
Disease Association N. gonorrhoeae - Leading cause of sexually transmitted disease
- always pathogenic; not a normal flora
- Opthlamia neonatorum
N. meningitidis - Leading cause of fatal bacterial meningitis
- Waterhouse friderichsen syndrome
- Endemic & epidemic meningitis
- Meningococcemia
- Pneumonia
- Purulent arthritis
- Endophthalmitis
|
Laboratory diagnosis
- Specimen
- rectal
- pus
- throat swab
- gastric washing
- joint fluid
- Very sensitive to drying and extreme temp.
- Swabs are acceptable
- Calcium alginate – inhibits N. gonorrhoeae
- Dacron/Rayon – recommended
- JEMBEC plates
- ENDOCERVIX – most common site of infection in women
|
Media |
Thayer-Martin Agar | V+C+N |
Modified thayer-martin agar | V+C+N+ Trimethoprim lactate |
Martin-Lewis Agar | V + C + Anisomycin + T |
New York City Agar | V + C + Amphotericin B + T |
GC – LECT | Lincomycin + V + C + Amphotericin B + T |
| Glucose Maltose Lactose Sucrose | DNAse, Nitrate, Butyrate Disk | Others |
N. meningitidis | + + – – | – | |
N. gonorrhoeae | + – – – | – | |
N. sicca | + + – + | – | Wrinkled colony / breadcrumb |
N. lactamica | + + + – | – | ONPG + |
M. catarrhalis | – – – – | + | Hockey puck / wagon wheel colony |
| Beta galactosidase | Gamma glutamyl aminopeptidase | Prolyl hydroxylprolyl aminopeptidase |
N. meningitidis | – | + | – |
N. gonorrhoeae | – | – | + |
M. catarrhalis | – | – | – |
Neisseria gonorrhoeae VIRULENCE FACTORS
- LOS – endotoxin; major in-vivo virulence factor; protective device
- Pili (fimbriae) – inhibits phagocytosis
- IgA protease – cleaves IgA
- Cell Membrane Proteins – protective device for organism o
- Protein I (por) – channels nutrients to pass into waste products to exit cells.
- Protein II (opa) – adherence to phagocyte and epithelial cells o
- Protein III (rmp) – blocks host IgG against organism
Specimen collection
- N. gonorrhoeae
- Urethra – insert 2 cm swab in anterior
- Rectal culture – 4-5 cm in and canal
- N. meningitidis
- CSF
- 1ml
- 1000 x g for 10 mins
- Cytocentrifuge (recommended)