Morax-Axenfeld diplobacilli

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]

Moraxella lacunata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Bacteria
Phylum:
Proteobacteria
Class:
Gammaproteobacteria
Order:
Pseudomonadales
Family:
Moraxellaceae
Genus:
Moraxella
Species:
M. lacunata
Binomial name
Moraxella lacunata

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
  1. "Medical Definition of MORAX-AXENFELD BACILLUS".
  2. Brenner, Don J.; Krieg, Noel R.; Staley, James R. (14 December 2007). "Bergey's Manual® of Systematic Bacteriology: Volume 2: The Proteobacteria, Part B: The Gammaproteobacteria". Springer Science & Business Media – via Google Books.
  3. Zhulin, Denis Larionov & Alexander. "Read the eBook The pathology of the eye (Volume 1) by John Herbert Parsons online for free (page 6 of 38)".
  4. Horwich, Harry; Fedukowicz, Helena (1 October 1955). "Variations in Morax-Axenfeld Diplobacillus". AMA Arch Ophthalmol. 54 (4): 580–585. doi:10.1001/archopht.1955.00930020586011 – via archopht.jamanetwork.com.
  5. TERMIUM®, Government of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Translation Bureau,. "tumefaccion [2 records] - TERMIUM Plus® — Search - TERMIUM Plus®".CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)


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