Isolation of presumptive Streptobacillus moniliformis from abscesses associated with the female genital tract

Clin Infect Dis. 1996 Mar;22(3):471-6. doi: 10.1093/clinids/22.3.471.

Abstract

We report three cases in which Streptobacillus moniliformis was isolated from abscesses. Abscess material in each case contained small, pleomorphic, gram-negative to gram-variable bacilli. Anaerobic blood agar cultures yielded pinpoint colonies adjacent to small gray-white colonies. The pinpoint colonies did not gram stain, and the gray-white colonies varied from gram-variable coccobacilli to long, curly, gram-variable rods. The pinpoint colonies microscopically resembled L-forms on Dienes-stained agar preparation. Subculture to serum-supplemented thioglycolate broth demonstrated "puff ball" colonies. Fatty acid profiles obtained with use of gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry showed major peaks for C16:0, C18:2, C18:1, and C18:0 fatty acids, a profile characteristic of S. moniliformis. Results of biochemical testing of each isolate were equivocal. S. moniliformis, bacterial L-forms, and common isolates from genital tract abscesses are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / microbiology*
  • Abscess / physiopathology
  • Adult
  • Fatty Acids
  • Female
  • Genital Diseases, Female / microbiology*
  • Genital Diseases, Female / physiopathology
  • Genitalia, Female / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Streptobacillus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids