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Klebsiella granulomatis

This page is about microbiologic aspects of the organism(s).  For clinical aspects of the disease, see Donovanosis.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Nate Michalak, B.A.;


Overview

Klebsiella granulomatis, originally classified as Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, is a fastidious Gram-negative pleomorphic bacteria causing donovanosis, a gential ulcer disease.

Organism

  • Aragão and Vianna classified the bacteria causing donovanosis as Calymmatobacterium granulomatis in 1913. However, DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA and phoE genes revealed similarity to Klebsiella.[1]
  • There is 99% homology between the etiologic agent of donovanosis and members of Klebsiella.[2]
  • A proposal has been put forth to reclassify the bacteria to Klebsiella granulomatis.
  • K. granulomatis morphology:[3]

Human Pathogen

  • K. granulomatis is an obligate, intracellular human pathogen.
  • K. granulomatis is typically transmitted through sexual contact but may also be transmitted through direct contact and fecal contamination.[4]

References

  1. Velho, Paulo Eduardo Neves Ferreira; Souza, Elemir Macedo de; Belda Junior, Walter (2008). “Donovanosis”. Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 12 (6). doi:10.1590/S1413-86702008000600015. ISSN 1413-8670.
  2. Carter J, Hutton S, Sriprakash KS, Kemp DJ, Lum G, Savage J; et al. (1997). “Culture of the causative organism of donovanosis (Calymmatobacterium granulomatis) in HEp-2 cells”. J Clin Microbiol. 35 (11): 2915–7. PMC 230086. PMID 9350758.
  3. Richens J (1991). “The diagnosis and treatment of donovanosis (granuloma inguinale)”. Genitourin Med. 67 (6): 441–52. PMC 1194766. PMID 1774048.
  4. O’Farrell N (2002). “Donovanosis”. Sex Transm Infect. 78 (6): 452–7. PMC 1758360. PMID 12473810.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 “Public Health Image Library (PHIL)”.


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