View source for Neisseria

* Genus of [[Stain::Gram-negative]] [[Shape::diplococcus|diplococci]] within the family [[Family::Neisseriaceae]]
* Non-motile, non-spore-forming, oxidase-[[Oxidase::positive]] and mostly catalase-[[Catalase::positive]]
* They are commensal flora of the mucosal membranes of humans and some animals, and are generally considered non-pathogenic except [[Neisseria meningitidis]] and [[Neisseria gonorrhoeae]]
* Species include:
** [[Neisseria meningitidis|'''Neisseria meningitidis''']]
** [[Neisseria gonorrhoeae|'''Neisseria gonorrhoeae''']]
** [[Neisseria lactamica]] has resports of bacteremia and pneumonia in immucompromised patients
** [[Neisseria cinerea]] has been isolated from cervix, rectum, conjunctivae, blood, and CSF, and rare cases of peritonitis, tonsillitis, lymphadenitis, proctitis, and pulmonary cavitations
** [[Neisseria flavescens]] and [[Neisseria polysaccharea]] are in the flora of human respiratory tract and re non-pathogenic
** [[Nesseria subflava]], [[Neisseria flava]], [[Neisseria perflava]], [[Neisseria mucosa]], and [[Neisseria sicca]] are in the flora of human respiratory tract and can rarely cause endocarditis, bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, empyema, pericarditis, peritonitis, septic arthritis, and liver abscess
** [[Neisseria elongata]] and [[Neisseria weaveri]], in contrast to the other species, are bacilli in pairs or chains, and are catalase-negative
*** [[Neisseria elongata]] is found in the human respiratory tract, and can rarely cause endocarditis, bacteremia, ad osteomyelitis
*** [[Neisseria weaveri]] is found in the canine respiratory tract, and can rarely cause pneumonia

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Neisseria''}}
[[Category:Gram-negative cocci]]
[[Category:Infectious diseases]]