‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

GENUS:
CORYNEBACTERIUM
Prof. Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh
• Diptheroides = Coryneforms
• Gram +ve,
• Nonmotile Rods.
• Arranged in V forms or Palisades
• Catalase +ve
1. Corynebacterium diphtheriae

• Diphtheria.

Morphology
• Pleomorphic Bacilli
• Cells Contain Metachromatic Granules.
 Corynebacterium diphtheriae
Club-shaped, Gram-positive rods
 Cultural Characteristics

• i. Loeffler's Serum Slope.

• ii. Tellurite BA.

- Temp. 37oC,
- Aerobic and Facultative AnO2.
 Corynebacterium diphtheriae forms black
colonies on tellurit agar (left), on blood agar
colonies appear white (right)
PATHOGENICITY
• Diphtheria is a Toxaemia.
– Exotoxin: M. wt 62000
– 2 Fragaments >> A & B
– Inhibits Protein Synthesis.
– Has Special Affinity for Certain Tissues
"Mycocardium, Adrenals, Nerve Endings".
• Toxin >> Toxoid.
• Site of Infection >> Faucial.
– Toxin >> Pseudomemebrane.
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

• Important >> Specific Treatment Should Be

Started Immediately on Suspicion of Diphtheria.

• Specimen: Two Swabs from the Lesion.

• Culture:
i. Loeffler's Serum Slope >> Albert Stain.
ii. Tellurite BA.
iii. BA >> Streptococcal or Staphylococcal
Pharyngitis.
PATHOGENICITY TESTS
• In-vivo Tests:
i. Subcutaneous Test:
ii. Intracutaneuos Test:

• In-vitro Test:
– Elek Test ( Gel Precipitaion Test).

• Tissue Culture:
TREATMENT

• i. Antitoxin: > Moderate Cases:

> Severe Cases:
• ii. Antibiotic:

PREVENTION

• i. Active Immunization >> PDT.

• ii. Passive Immunization:
• iii. Combined:
SCHICK TEST

• > Injection of 0.2 ml of Diphtheria Toxin

Intradermally.
• > Positive Reaction >> Erythema +
Swelling
 SCHICK TEST
______________________________________________________________________
Result Test Arm Control Arm Interpretation Diphthri
(Toxin) Inactivated Toxin Immunization
36h 120h 36h 120h
______________________________________________________________________
Negative -- -- -- -- Immune, Not
Not Hypersensitive Required
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Positive + + -- -- Not Immune, Not Required
Hypersensitive
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Negative + -- + -- Immune Not
Hypersensitive Required
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Positive & + + + -- Not Immune Contra-
Pseudo Hypersensitive indicated
______________________________________________________________________
 ‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

Listeria monocytogenes
• Listerosis.

• G+ve Coccobacilli > in Short Chains.

• Motile at 25oC But Not at 37oC.
• Aerobic to Microaerophilic.
• On BA > Narrow Zone of -Haemolysis.
• Listerolysin O >
• Incidence and Transmission >

DISEASE
• i. In Adults:
• ii. Neonatal Infections:
a. Early Type:
b. Late Type:
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
• i. Specimen: Depend on Syndrome: Blood,
CSF, Genital Tract Secretions.
• ii. Media: Selective Media.

TREATMENT
• Penicillin, Ampicillin.