Moraxella

A genus of obligately aerobic nonmotile bacteria (family Neisseriaceae) containing Gram-negative coccoids or short rods that usually occur in pairs. They do not produce acid from carbohydrates, are oxidase positive and penicillin-susceptible, and infect the mucous membranes of humans and other mammals. The type species is M. lacunata. [V. Morax]

- M. anatipestifer a bacterial species causing a respiratory disease in ducklings.

- M. catarrhalis a bacterial species that causes upper respiratory tract infections, particularly in immunocompromised hosts; the type species of the genus M.. SYN: Branhamella catarrhalis.

- M. kingae SYN: Kingella kingae.

- M. lacunata a bacterial species causing conjunctivitis in humans; it is the type species of the genus M..

- M. nonliquefaciens a bacterial species found in the respiratory tract of humans, especially in the nose; usually not pathogenic, but occasionally causes sinusitis.

- M. osloensis a bacterial species found in the genitourinary tract, blood, spinal and chest fluids, and nose; rarely found in the respiratory tract; usually not pathogenic, although some strains have been isolated from serious pathologic conditions in humans.

- M. phenylpyruvica a bacterial species of unknown pathogenicity found in the genitourinary tract, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and in pus from various lesions.

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Mor·ax·el·la .mȯr-ak-'sel-ə n a genus of short rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria of the family Neisseriaceae that includes the causative agent (M. lacunata) of Morax-Axenfeld conjunctivitis

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n.

a genus of short rodlike Gram-negative aerobic bacteria, usually occurring in pairs. They exist as parasites in many warm-blooded animals. The species M. lacunata causes conjunctivitis.

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Mo·rax·el·la (mo″rak-selґə) [Victor Morax] a genus of bacteria of the family Moraxellaceae, consisting of gram-negative, short, aerobic, oxidase-positive, nonpigmented organisms found as parasites and pathogens on the mucous membranes of mammals. The genus includes two subgenera: M. (Moraxella) occurring as rods, and M. (Branhamella) occurring as cocci.