Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1990 Jan;28(1):108–111. doi: 10.1128/jcm.28.1.108-111.1990

Use of the RapID-ANA system and sodium polyanetholesulfonate disk susceptibility testing in identifying Haemophilus ducreyi.

R Shawar 1, J Sepulveda 1, J E Clarridge 1
PMCID: PMC269546  PMID: 2153697

Abstract

Haemophilus ducreyi has traditionally been difficult to identify. We have utilized simple test methods to identify 19 fresh isolates obtained during a recent outbreak of chancroid in Houston and six strains of H. ducreyi from other outbreaks. Tests were performed from growth on chocolate agar after 48 h of incubation at 35 degrees C with increased humidity and CO2. All isolates exhibited typical colonial morphology and Gram stain. Isolates were catalase negative and oxidase and nitrate positive (in enriched broth). The RapID NH system failed to identify these strains because of negative reactions with alkaline phosphatase and nitrate reductase. However, by using the RapID-ANA system, all strains were positive for alkaline phosphatase and arginine, glycine, and serine aminopeptidases. Their biochemical profiles were distinct from those obtained with 66 strains representing 13 species similar to H. ducreyi. We also investigated the use of sodium polyanetholesulfonate (SPS) disk susceptibility to identify and differentiate H. ducreyi from other species. All H. ducreyi isolates were susceptible, as evidenced by the presence of a zone of inhibition with an average size of 15 mm around the SPS disk. With the exceptions of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Capnocytophaga spp., no other strain showed any evidence of inhibition. The latter three organisms can be easily differentiated from H. ducreyi by various features including reactions in the RapID-ANA. We conclude that, by considering simple growth and biochemical characteristics, SPS susceptibilities, and reactions in RapID-ANA, it is possible for more clinical laboratories to definitively identify this organism.

Full text

PDF
108

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Borchardt K. A., Hoke A. W. Simplified laboratory technique for diagnosis of chancroid. Arch Dermatol. 1970 Aug;102(2):188–192. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Casin I. M., Sanson-Le Pors M. J., Gorce M. F., Ortenberg M., Pérol Y. The enzymatic profile of Haemophilus ducreyi. Ann Microbiol (Paris) 1982 Nov-Dec;133(3):379–388. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dylewski J., Nsanze H., Maitha G., Ronald A. Laboratory diagnosis of Haemophilus ducreyi: sensitivity of culture media. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1986 Mar;4(3):241–245. doi: 10.1016/0732-8893(86)90103-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Fast M. V., D'Costa L. J., Nsanze H., Piot P., Curran J., Karasira P., Mirza N., Maclean I. W., Ronald A. R. The clinical diagnosis of genital ulcer disease in men in the tropics. Sex Transm Dis. 1984 Apr-Jun;11(2):72–76. doi: 10.1097/00007435-198404000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Graves M. H., Morello J. A., Kocka F. E. Sodium polyanethol sulfonate sensitivity of anaerobic cocci. Appl Microbiol. 1974 Jun;27(6):1131–1133. doi: 10.1128/am.27.6.1131-1133.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hafiz S., McEntegart M. G., Kinghorn G. R. Sheffield medium for cultivation of Haemophilus ducreyi. Br J Vener Dis. 1984 Jun;60(3):196–198. doi: 10.1136/sti.60.3.196. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hammond G. W., Lian C. J., Wilt J. C., Ronald A. R. Comparison of specimen collection and laboratory techniques for isolation of Haemophilus ducreyi. J Clin Microbiol. 1978 Jan;7(1):39–43. doi: 10.1128/jcm.7.1.39-43.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hannah P., Greenwood J. R. Isolation and rapid identification of Haemophilus ducreyi. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Nov;16(5):861–864. doi: 10.1128/jcm.16.5.861-864.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kilian M. A taxonomic study of the genus Haemophilus, with the proposal of a new species. J Gen Microbiol. 1976 Mar;93(1):9–62. doi: 10.1099/00221287-93-1-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lubwama S. W., Plummer F. A., Ndinya-Achola J., Nsanze H., Namaara W., D'Costa L. J., Ronald A. R. Isolation and identification of Haemophilus ducreyi in a clinical laboratory. J Med Microbiol. 1986 Sep;22(2):175–178. doi: 10.1099/00222615-22-2-175. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Morse S. A. Chancroid and Haemophilus ducreyi. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1989 Apr;2(2):137–157. doi: 10.1128/cmr.2.2.137. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Nobre G. N. Identification of Haemophilus ducreyi in the clinical laboratory. J Med Microbiol. 1982 May;15(2):243–245. doi: 10.1099/00222615-15-2-243. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Oberhofer T. R., Back A. E. Isolation and cultivation of Haemophilus ducreyi. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Apr;15(4):625–629. doi: 10.1128/jcm.15.4.625-629.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Plummer F. A., D'Costa L. J., Nsanze H., Karasira P., MacLean I. W., Piot P., Ronald A. R. Clinical and microbiologic studies of genital ulcers in Kenyan women. Sex Transm Dis. 1985 Oct-Dec;12(4):193–197. doi: 10.1097/00007435-198510000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Reimer L. G., Reller L. B. Use of a sodium polyanetholesulfonate disk for the identification of Gardnerella vaginalis. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Feb;21(2):146–149. doi: 10.1128/jcm.21.2.146-149.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Schmid G. P., Sanders L. L., Jr, Blount J. H., Alexander E. R. Chancroid in the United States. Reestablishment of an old disease. JAMA. 1987 Dec 11;258(22):3265–3268. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sng E. H., Lim A. L., Rajan V. S., Goh A. J. Characteristics of Haemophilus ducreyi. A study. Br J Vener Dis. 1982 Aug;58(4):239–242. doi: 10.1136/sti.58.4.239. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Sottnek F. O., Biddle J. W., Kraus S. J., Weaver R. E., Stewart J. A. Isolation and identification of Haemophilus ducreyi in a clinical study. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Aug;12(2):170–174. doi: 10.1128/jcm.12.2.170-174.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Sturm A. W., Stolting G. J., Cormane R. H., Zanen H. C. Clinical and microbiological evaluation of 46 episodes of genital ulceration. Genitourin Med. 1987 Apr;63(2):98–101. doi: 10.1136/sti.63.2.98. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Sturm A. W., Zanen H. C. Characteristics of Haemophilus ducreyi in culture. J Clin Microbiol. 1984 May;19(5):672–674. doi: 10.1128/jcm.19.5.672-674.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Sturm A. W., Zanen H. C. Enzymic activity of Haemophilus ducreyi. J Med Microbiol. 1984 Oct;18(2):181–187. doi: 10.1099/00222615-18-2-181. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Swiatlo A. L., Attar B., Levendoglu H., Go B., Kocka F. E. Identification of Campylobacter pylori by using the rapID NH system. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Feb;27(2):341–342. doi: 10.1128/jcm.27.2.341-342.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Taylor D. N., Duangmani C., Suvongse C., O'Connor R., Pitarangsi C., Panikabutra K., Echeverria P. The role of Haemophilus ducreyi in penile ulcers in Bangkok, Thailand. Sex Transm Dis. 1984 Jul-Sep;11(3):148–151. doi: 10.1097/00007435-198407000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Van Dyck E., Piot P. Enzyme profile of Haemophilus ducreyi strains isolated on different continents. Eur J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Feb;6(1):40–43. doi: 10.1007/BF02097188. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Wideman P. A., Vargo V. L., Citronbaum D., Finegold S. M. Evaluation of the sodium polyanethol sulfonate disk test for the identification of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Oct;4(4):330–333. doi: 10.1128/jcm.4.4.330-333.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES