17: Bacteroides, Tannerella, Porphyromonas and Prevotella

Chapter 17 Bacteroides, Tannerella, Porphyromonas and Prevotella

The genera described in this chapter are obligately anaerobic, short Gram-negative rods or coccobacilli. Historically, only the Bacteroides genus was known, but the application of new taxonomic techniques has resulted in the definition of three additional genera: Tannerella, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. Together they comprise a substantial proportion of the microflora of the dental plaque, intestine and the female genital tract (Table 17.1):

Table 17.1 Anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli of clinical interest

Organism Main colonization sites
Bacteroides  
B. fragilis group Colon
B. fragilis  
B. ovatus  
B. vulgatus  
B. distasonis  
B. capillosus Colon, oropharynx
B. ureolyticus Oropharynx, intestine, genitourinary tract
Tannerella  
T. forsythia Oropharynx
Porphyromonas  
P. gingivalis Oropharynx
P. endodontalis Oropharynx
Prevotella  
P. intermedia Oropharynx
P. nigrescens Oropharynx
P. melaninogenica Oropharynx
P. loescheii Oropharynx
P. pallens Vagina, oropharynx
P. corporis Vagina, oropharynx

Collectively, Tannerella, Porphyromonas and Prevotella species are referred to as black-pigmented anaerobes, as some organisms from these genera form a characteristic brown or black pigment on blood agar (Fig. 17.1).

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Jan 4, 2015 | Posted by in General Dentistry | Comments Off on 17: Bacteroides, Tannerella, Porphyromonas and Prevotella

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