What is the colony morphology of Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
C. diphtheriae is a pleomorphic, club-shaped, Gram positive bacillus that is catalase positive, non-motile, non-spore forming, and non-acid fast. On Gram stain, the organisms are typically described as having a “picket fence” or “Chinese character” morphology (image 3).
What are the characteristics of Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
CHARACTERISTICS: Corynebacterium diphtheriae is part of the Corynebacteriaceae family and genus Corynebacterium. Bacteria are small, pleomorphic, aerobic, non-spore forming bacilli. They are Gram positive and slightly club shaped 1 2.
What morphological features are characteristic of the Corynebacterium diphtheria?
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a slender, Gram-positive bacillus, usually with one end being wider, thus giving the often-described club-shaped appearance. On culture, particularly under suboptimal conditions, characteristic bands or granules appear.
What is the colonization site of Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
The pathogenesis of diphtheria is based upon two primary determinants: (1) the ability of a given strain of C diphtheriae to colonize in the nasopharyngeal cavity and/or on the skin, and (2) its ability to produce diphtheria toxin.
What does Corynebacterium diphtheriae look like?
How does Corynebacterium diphtheriae spread?
Diphtheria bacteria usually spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing. Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin (poison). It is the toxin that can cause people to get very sick.
What type of pathogen is Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
Diphtheria is an infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxin. Diphtheria spreads from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing. It can also spread by touching open sores or ulcers of someone with a diphtheria skin infection.
What causes Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
Is Corynebacterium diphtheriae contagious?
Diphtheria is a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. There are two types of diphtheria: respiratory and cutaneous. Respiratory diphtheria involves the nose, throat and tonsils, and cutaneous diphtheria involves the skin.
Which staining is used for identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
To accurately identify C. diphtheriae, a Gram stain is performed to show Gram-positive, highly pleomorphic organisms with no particular arrangement. Special stains like Albert’s stain and Ponder’s stain are used to demonstrate the metachromatic granules formed in the polar regions.