The manganous chloride-urea test is used to identify which organism?

The manganous chloride-urea test is used to identify which organism?

• A. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• B. Ureaplasma urealyticum
• C. Bacillus cereus
• D. Borrelia burgdorferi

Answer: (B)

The manganous chloride-urea test is specifically designed to identify Ureaplasma urealyticum because this organism is notable for its ability to hydrolyze urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The test utilizes manganous chloride to detect this urease activity. When Ureaplasma urealyticum is present, the hydrolysis of urea occurs, leading to an increase in the pH of the environment due to the production of ammonia. This change can then be detected through a color change in the media, indicating a positive result for urease production. In contrast, the other organisms listed do not possess this characteristic urease activity or are not detected through this specific test. For instance, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Borrelia burgdorferi do not involve urea hydrolysis, while Bacillus cereus is typically identified through other biochemical tests rather than urease activity. This specificity of the manganous chloride-urea test makes it a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying Ureaplasma urealyticum in clinical microbiology.

The manganous chloride-urea test is specifically designed to identify Ureaplasma urealyticum because this organism is notable for its ability to hydrolyze urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The test utilizes manganous chloride to detect this urease activity. When Ureaplasma urealyticum is present, the hydrolysis of urea occurs, leading to an increase in the pH of the environment due to the production of ammonia. This change can then be detected through a color change in the media, indicating a positive result for urease production.

In contrast, the other organisms listed do not possess this characteristic urease activity or are not detected through this specific test. For instance, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Borrelia burgdorferi do not involve urea hydrolysis, while Bacillus cereus is typically identified through other biochemical tests rather than urease activity. This specificity of the manganous chloride-urea test makes it a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying Ureaplasma urealyticum in clinical microbiology.