Aerobic Gram Positive Bacilli (Exam 4) Flashcards
Which of these organisms is spore forming?
Bacillus sp. (anthracis and cereus)
What does a positive test for lecithinase look like? What is the test done on? What is the end biochemical product?
A white, opaque zone around colonies on egg yolk agar; Insoluble diglyceride
What is the habitat or reservoir for B. anthracis?
Herbivorous animals and spores from soil
What is the habitat or reservoir for B. cereus?
Soil, straw, and rice (especially rice that has been cooked in large quantities and left out for too long)
Which of these organisms is a possible bioterrorism agent?
B. anthracis
Are bacillus species catalase positive or negative?
Positive
Are corynebacterium species catalase positive or negative?
Positive
Is listeria monocytogenes catalase positive or negative?
Positive
Is Rhodococcus catalase negative or positive?
Positive
Is Arcanobacterium catalase negative or positive?
Negative
Is Erysipelothrix catalase negative or positive?
Negative
Is lactobacillus catalase negative or positive?
Negative
Is gardnerella vaginalis catalase negative or positive?
Negative
What is Woolsorter’s disease?
The pulmonary form of anthrax caused by inhaling spores
What is the most common form of anthrax in humans? How deadly is it?
Cutaneous anthrax. It is the least deadly form with a 1% mortality rate.
How is the gastrointestinal form of anthrax transmitted? Does it have a high mortality rate?
By consuming spores or vegetative bacilli through undercooked food (usually meat); YES
Which form of anthrax has a 80-90% mortality rate?
Pulmonary anthrax
What are the three B. anthracis toxins?
Protective antigen (PA), Lethal factor (LF), and Edema factor (EF)
What is the colony morphology for B. anthracis?
Non-hemolytic with “medusa head” or “egg white” or “ground glass” colonies
What is the gram stain for B. anthracis?
Large GPB boxcars, may contain spores
How can you differentiate B. anthracis and B. cereus? What are the results?
Motility (Anthracis = Cereus +), hemolysis (Anthracis = Cereus - Beta), and growth on PEA agar (Anthracis = Cereus +)
How quickly do symptoms of B. cereus appear?
Within 1-16 hours
What is the main symptom or disease state caused by B. cereus?
Food poisoning
What is the colony morphology or B. cereus?
Beta hemolytic, green, feathery and spready
What is the gram stain of B. cereus?
Large GPB boxcars, may contain spores
What are the distinguishing characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes?
Growth at 4C (fridge temp), umbrella pattern in motility agar at RT, BE +, Sodium hippurate +, and block shape in CAMP test
What are the two organisms that are positive for hippurate hydrolysis?
Listeria monocytogenes and Gardnerella vaginalis