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Neisseria gonorrhoeae, also known as Gonococci (plural), or Gonococcus (singular), is a species of Gram-negative kidney bean-shaped diplococci bacteria responsible for the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea.[1]
N. gonorrhoeae was first described by Albert Neisser in 1879.
Neisseria are fastidious cocci, requiring nutrient supplementation to grow in laboratory cultures. Specifically, they grow on Chocolate agar with carbon dioxide. These cocci are facultatively intracellular and typically appear in pairs (diplococci).
Neisseria is usually isolated on Thayer-Martin agar — an agar plate with three different antibiotics and nutrients which not only facilitate the growth of Neisseria species, but inhibit the growth of Gram-positive organisms and most bacilli and fungi. Further testing to differentiate the species includes testing for oxidase (all Neisseria show a positive reaction) and the carbohydrates maltose, sucrose, and glucose test in which N. gonorrhoeae will only oxidize (that is, utilize) the glucose.
Symptoms of infection with N. gonorrhoeae differ depending on the site of infection.
Infection of the genitals can result in a purulent (or pus-like) discharge from the genitals which may be foul smelling, inflammation, redness, swelling, dysuria and a burning sensation during urination.
N. gonorrhoeae can also cause conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, proctitis or urethritis, prostatitis and orchitis.
Conjunctivitis is common in neonates and Silver nitrate or antibiotics are often applied to their eyes as a preventive measure against gonorrhoea. Neonatal gonorrheal conjunctivitis is contracted when the infant is exposed to N. gonorrhoeae in the birth canal, and can result in corneal scarring or perforation.
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