Spore-Forming Gram positive

Bacillus
 General Characteristics of Bacillus
 Gram positive rods.
*most are saprophytic or normal flora
*Bacillus anthracis is the most important member
 Produce endospores.(heat & cold resistance
spores)
 Aerobic or facultative anaerobe
 Catalase positive
*Rapidly differentiates from Clostridia
 Most of the Bacillus spp. Are found in soil, water
and airborne dust thermophilic(≤75 Cº)and
psychrophilic (≥5-8 Cº).
 Laboratory Characteristics of Bacillus
 On blood agar
• Large, spreading, gray-white colonies, with irregular
margins
• Many are beta-hemolytic (helpful in differentiating various
Bacillus spp. from B. anthracis)
 Spores seen after several days of incubation, but not
typically in fresh clinical specimens
Bacillus anthracis
Physiology and structure of Bacillus
anthracis

*spore-forming gram-positive bacilli.

*Facultative anaerobe
*Nonfastidious growth of non hemolytic
colonies
*Polypeptide capsule consisting of poly-D-
glutamic acid
 Properties Bacillus anthracis
 Large gram + rod.
 Square ends, frequently found in chains.
 Nonmotile, other members of the genus are motile.
 Culture on blood agar.
 3 forms of anthrax:
Cutaneous ‫ ــ‬Painless ulcer with a black eschar.
pulmonary – inhalation of spores
gastrointestinal – ingested spores
 Virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis

 Present of capsule and this capsule consisting

of poly-D-glutamic acid
 Virulent strains produce three exotoxins
*Letho factor
*Edema factor
*Spreading factor
These factors are allow bacteria to cause disease
 Spores can survive in soil for years
 Clinical presentation of
Anthrax(Cutaneous Anthrax)
 95% human cases are cutaneous infections
 1 to 5 days after contact
 Small, pruritic, non-painful papule at inoculation
site
 Papule develops into hemorrhagic vesicle &
ruptures
 Slow-healing painless ulcer covered with black
eschar surrounded by edema
 Infection may spread to lymphatics
 Septicemia may develop
 20% mortality in untreated cutaneous anthrax .
 Clinical presentation of
Anthrax(Inhalation Anyhrax)
 Virtually 100% fatal (pneumonic)
 Meningitis may complicate cutaneous and
inhalation forms of disease
 Pharyngeal anthrax
*Fever
*Pharyngitis
*Neck swelling
 Clinical presentation of
Anthrax(Gastrointestinal Anthrax)
 Virtually 100% fatal
 Abdominal pain
 Hemorrhagic ascites
 Paracentesis fluid may reveal gram
positive rods
Edema and necrosis Inhalation anthrax with
around eye bilateral pneumonia, more
severe in left lower lung.
Laboratory diagnosis of Bacillus anthracis

 Gram staining ;rod shaped, gram

positive
 Anthrax quick ELISA test.
 From clinical sample , such as blood,
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), skin lesion
(eschar)
Laboratory diagnosis of Bacillus anthracis

 growth on sheep blood agar;

-Large gram-positive rods
-Nonmotile
-Nonhemolytic
 Gelatin stab culture
 Chest X-ray
Bacillus cereus
Quest. Recognize anthracis VS cereus
 Physiology and structure of
Bacillus cereus
 Spore forming gram positive bacilli.
 Facultative anaerobe.
 Nonfastidious growth requirement.
 Spores on grains such as rice
 Virulence factor of Bacillus cereus

 The bacteria produce two kind of toxins

*Heat-labile enterotoxin.
*Heat-stable enterotoxin.
 Spores can survive in soil
 Tissue destruction is mediated by
cytotoxic enzymes including cereolysin
and phospholipase C .
 Laboratory diagnosis and
Clinical features

 Cause food poisoning.

 Two symptoms a. Short incubation (4hrs) const.
nausea & vomiting. b. Long incubation (18hrs)
watery, nonbloody diarrhea.
 Lab. Diagnosis not usually done.
 Isolation of the organism in implicated food
product or nonfecal specimens(e.g., eyes,
wound).
Edited by Asst.lec D.M.A