Which of the following species of Bordetella are urease-positive and oxidase-positive?

Which of the following species of Bordetella are urease-positive and oxidase-positive?

• A. B. bronchiseptica
• B. B. parapertussis
• C. B. pertussis
• D. B. avium

Answer: (B)

Bordetella bronchiseptica is the species that is both urease-positive and oxidase-positive. This characteristic helps differentiate it from other Bordetella species. Bordetella bronchiseptica is commonly associated with respiratory diseases in animals, especially in dogs, and is recognized for its ability to produce urease, which hydrolyzes urea to ammonia, an important function in certain clinical settings, particularly in the context of infections. In contrast, Bordetella parapertussis does not exhibit these enzymatic reactions, and Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, is known to be urease-negative and oxidase-negative. Bordetella avium, which primarily affects birds, also lacks these enzymatic activities. Understanding these biochemical properties is crucial in microbiological diagnosis and distinguishes Bordetella species based on their metabolic profiles.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is the species that is both urease-positive and oxidase-positive. This characteristic helps differentiate it from other Bordetella species.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is commonly associated with respiratory diseases in animals, especially in dogs, and is recognized for its ability to produce urease, which hydrolyzes urea to ammonia, an important function in certain clinical settings, particularly in the context of infections.

In contrast, Bordetella parapertussis does not exhibit these enzymatic reactions, and Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, is known to be urease-negative and oxidase-negative. Bordetella avium, which primarily affects birds, also lacks these enzymatic activities. Understanding these biochemical properties is crucial in microbiological diagnosis and distinguishes Bordetella species based on their metabolic profiles.