Brucella species: Culture Characteristics, Colony Morphology, and Hallmark Features

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Brucella species: Culture Characteristics, Colony Morphology, and Hallmark Features

Culture Characteristics:
  • Slow growth on sheep blood agar (SBA) and chocolate (CHOC)
  • Growth in commercial blood culture systems, but may require extended incubation
  • Enriched atmosphere with CO2 may enhance growth of some strains
  • If Brucella is expected or suspected, extend incubation up to seven days
Colony Morphology on SBA at 35oC:
  • Visible growth may take 48-72 hours
  • Small, convex, and glistening
  • Non-hemolytic
13. CDC/T Parker. Image #12205. "This photomicrograph depicts the colonial morphology displayed by Gram-negative, Brucella abortus bacteria, which were grown on a medium of sheep blood agar (SBA), for a 24 hour time period." PHIL, 2010 public domain. Accessed May 25, 2022. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=12205
14. CDC/T Parker, A Marsh. Image #12241. "This photograph depicts the colonial morphology displayed by Gram-negative, Brucella abortus bacteria, which were grown on a medium of sheep blood agar (SBA), for a 48-hour time period." PHIL, 2010 public domain. Accessed May 25, 2022. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=12241

Brucella abortus bacteria grown on sheep blood agar (SBA);
24 hours of incubation. (13)
Brucella abortus bacteria grown on a sheep blood agar (SBA);
48 hours of incubation. (14)