Coccobacillus

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A coccobacillus (plural coccobacilli) is a type of bacterium with a shape that is intermediate between cocci (spherical bacteria) and bacilli (rod-shaped bacteria).[1] Coccobacilli are therefore in essence very short rods which may be mistaken for cocci. Haemophilus influenzae, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Chlamydia trachomatis are coccobacilli. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is prevalent in subgingival plaques. Acinetobacter strains may grow on solid media as coccobacilli. Bordetella pertussis is a gram-negative coccobacillus responsible for causing whooping cough.

Coxiella burnetti is also a coccobacillus.[2]

Bacteria from the Brucellae genus are medically important coccobacilli that cause brucellosis.

Haemophilus ducreyi is another medically important gram-negative coccobacillus and is observed in sexually transmitted disease, chancroid, of third-world countries.[3]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Dorlands Medical Dictionary:coccobacillus". 
  2. ^ "persistent rickettsial disease". 
  3. ^ Schaetchter's Mechanisms of Microbial Disease 4th Edition. ISBN 0-7817-5342-2