Fastidious bacteria are difficult to grow in the laboratory because they have specific nutritional requirements and growth conditions. They often require specialized growth media or conditions to support their growth. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat infections caused by these bacteria. Fastidious bacteria can be a challenge to study and treat, but it is important to understand them in order to prevent and treat infections. In this article we will discuss 11 fastidious bacteria examples.
Here are some of the reasons why these bacteria are considered fastidious
- They require specific nutrients, such as blood or hemoglobin, to grow.
- They require specific growth conditions, such as a warm temperature or a high concentration of CO2.
- They are easily killed by harsh chemicals or antibiotics.
Fastidious Bacteria examples:
Neisseria gonorrhoeae:
This bacterium is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. It is a fastidious bacterium that requires enriched media containing blood or specific growth factors for its cultivation.
Haemophilus influenzae:
H. influenzae is a bacterium responsible for various respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, sinusitis, and meningitis. It is fastidious and requires special growth factors such as hemin (X factor) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD or V factor) to grow.
Treponema pallidum:
T. pallidum is the bacterium that causes syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. It is highly fastidious and difficult to cultivate outside the human body. It requires a specialized medium and a microaerophilic environment for its growth.
Legionella pneumophila:
L. pneumophila is the bacterium responsible for Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia. It is a fastidious bacterium that requires the presence of L-cysteine and iron for its growth.
Bordetella pertussis:
B. pertussis is the bacterium that causes whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory infection. It is a fastidious bacterium that requires specialized growth media with specific additives to support its growth.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae:
M. pneumoniae is a bacterium that causes respiratory infections, particularly atypical pneumonia. It is a fastidious bacterium that lacks a cell wall and requires specialized growth media enriched with sterols for cultivation.
Campylobacter jejuni:
C. jejuni is a bacterium commonly associated with foodborne gastrointestinal infections, such as campylobacteriosis. It is fastidious and requires a microaerophilic environment with low oxygen levels, elevated carbon dioxide levels, and specific growth factors to support its growth.
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae:
A. pleuropneumoniae is a bacterium that causes porcine pleuropneumonia, a highly contagious respiratory disease in pigs. It is fastidious and requires specific growth factors such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and hemin for optimal growth.
Bartonella henselae:
B. henselae is the bacterium responsible for cat-scratch disease, a bacterial infection typically transmitted to humans through scratches or bites from cats. It is fastidious and requires specific growth factors and enhanced CO2 levels for cultivation.
Francisella tularensis:
F. tularensis is the bacterium that causes tularemia, a zoonotic disease affecting humans and various animals. It is highly fastidious and requires a cysteine-enriched medium and a complex set of growth factors for successful cultivation.
Brucella species:
Brucella species are bacteria that cause brucellosis, a zoonotic infection transmitted through contact with infected animals or their products. They are fastidious bacteria that require enriched media containing blood or specific growth factors for cultivation.