Prevotella

Genus of Gram-negative, nonmotile, nonsporeforming, obligately anaerobic, chemoorganotrophic, and pleomorphic rods; contains many species previously classified in the genus Bacteroides.

- P. bivia the species of P. in highest concentration in the human vaginal tract.

- P. denticola a bacterial species found in the human mouth; a cause of infections of the oral cavity and adjacent structures.

- P. disiens a bacterial species associated with human infections, primarily of the female genital tract. SYN: Bacteroides disiens.

- P. heparinolytica a bacterial species associated with human periodontal disease.

- P. intermedia a species found in gingival crevices, especially associated with gingivitis, and other oral infections.

- P. melaninogenica a species found in the mouth, feces, infections of the mouth, soft tissue, respiratory tract, urogenital tract, and intestinal tract; implicated in periodontal disease; seen in aspiration. The type species of Pretovella. SYN: Bacteroides melaninogenicus.

- P. oralis a bacterial species found in the gingival crevice of humans and in infections of the oral cavity and upper respiratory and genital tracts.

- P. oris a bacterial species isolated from the gingival crevice, systemic infections, face, neck, and chest abscesses, wound drainages, and blood and various bodily fluids.

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Pre·vo·tel·la (pre″vo-telґə) [Andrй Romain Prйvot, French microbiologist, 1894–1982] a genus of gram-negative, obligately anaerobic, moderately saccharolytic, bile-sensitive bacteria of the family Prevotellaceae, consisting of nonmotile, non–spore-forming, pleomorphic rod-shaped organisms. They are normal inhabitants of the mucous membranes and are found especially in the oral cavity, colon, and vagina; some cause human infections. Included here are a number of species formerly included in the genus Bacteroides. The type species is P. melaninogeґnica.