A gram-positive spore-forming bacillus producing a double zone of B-hemolysis on sheep-blood agar is presumptively identified as?

A gram-positive spore-forming bacillus producing a double zone of B-hemolysis on sheep-blood agar is presumptively identified as?

• A. Bacteroides ureolyticus
• B. Bacteroides fragilis
• C. Clostridium perfringens
• D. Clostridium difficile

Answer: (C)

The identification of a gram-positive spore-forming bacillus that produces a double zone of beta-hemolysis on sheep-blood agar is characteristic of Clostridium perfringens. This organism is part of the Clostridia family and is notably known for its ability to form spores and produce toxins that lead to various types of infections, including gas gangrene and food poisoning. The double zone of hemolysis observed on blood agar is a distinctive feature associated with Clostridium perfringens, where an inner zone of complete lysis (beta-hemolysis) occurs, surrounded by an outer zone of incomplete lysis (alpha-hemolysis). This hemolytic pattern is due to the production of phospholipase C, also known as lecithinase, which contributes to the breakdown of red blood cells and leads to the observable hemolysis on the agar medium. In contrast, the other options listed involve organisms that do not present this specific hemolytic characteristic on blood agar or do not exhibit spore formation in the same context as Clostridium perfringens. Understanding these distinctions helps in the accurate identification of bacterial species in clinical microbiology.

The identification of a gram-positive spore-forming bacillus that produces a double zone of beta-hemolysis on sheep-blood agar is characteristic of Clostridium perfringens. This organism is part of the Clostridia family and is notably known for its ability to form spores and produce toxins that lead to various types of infections, including gas gangrene and food poisoning.

The double zone of hemolysis observed on blood agar is a distinctive feature associated with Clostridium perfringens, where an inner zone of complete lysis (beta-hemolysis) occurs, surrounded by an outer zone of incomplete lysis (alpha-hemolysis). This hemolytic pattern is due to the production of phospholipase C, also known as lecithinase, which contributes to the breakdown of red blood cells and leads to the observable hemolysis on the agar medium.

In contrast, the other options listed involve organisms that do not present this specific hemolytic characteristic on blood agar or do not exhibit spore formation in the same context as Clostridium perfringens. Understanding these distinctions helps in the accurate identification of bacterial species in clinical microbiology.