Biology:Morax-Axenfeld diplobacilli

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of bacterium

Moraxella lacunata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
M. lacunata
Binomial name
Moraxella lacunata

Moraxella lacunata is a rod-shaped,[1] Gram-negative, nonmotile bacterium, generally present as diploid pairs.[2] It causes one of the commonest forms of catarrhal conjunctivitis.[3]

History

M. lacunata was first described independently by Victor Morax (1896) and Theodor Axenfeld (1897), hence the alternate name "Morax-Axenfeld diplobacilli" and the name of eye infection in humans is sometimes called Morax-Axenfeld conjunctivitis.[2]

Characters

It has the ability to change its morphology in laboratory. M. lacunata became shorter and tended to lose its Gram-negative staining characteristic when left out for 5 days. It also tended to retain these new characteristics on subsequent blood-agar transfers.[4]

Clinical significance

Infection occurs mainly in adults, but can occur at any age. It is characterized by:

  • Chronic, mild angular blepharoconjunctivitis frequently localized on the lid at the outer canthus
  • Typical erythema of the edges of the lids
  • Slight maceration of the skin, most marked at the angles, especially the outer canthus
  • Superficial infiltration of the cornea is not uncommon.[3]
  • The discharge is grayish yellow, adherent to the lashes, and accumulates mainly at the angles.[5]

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q6909420 entry