Corynebacterium renale
Bacterium causing urinary tract infections in cattle.
Cattle infected with *Corynebacterium renale* can develop cystitis and pyelonephritis. This bacterium is Gram-positive and facultatively anaerobic. Its cells are nonencapsulated, do not form spores, and are nonmotile, appearing as straight or curved rods measuring 1 to 8 μm long and 0.3 to 0.8 μm wide. In culture, these rods form branched clusters that resemble Chinese characters. The organism is susceptible to many common antibiotics, including penicillins, ampicillin, cephalosporins, quinolones, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, cefuroxime, and trimethoprim. Because diagnostic tests for *Corynebacterium cystitidis* and *C. renale* are similar, infections in beef cattle may be mistakenly identified as *C. renale*.
- type
- Bacterium
- gram_stain
- Gram-positive
- morphology
- Nonencapsulated, nonsporulated, immobile, straight or curved rods (1–8 μm long, 0.3–0.8 μm wide)
- metabolism
- Facultatively anaerobic
- pathogenicity
- Causes cystitis and pyelonephritis in cattle
- antibiotic_sensitivity
- Sensitive to penicillins, ampicillin, cephalosporins, quinolones, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, cefuroxime, and trimethoprim
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Corynebacterium renale
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Corynebacterium renale is a pathogenic bacterium primarily associated with urinary tract infections in cattle, specifically cystitis and pyelonephritis. Its cellular morphology includes straight or curved rods that form characteristic ramified aggregations in culture, often described as resembling 'Chinese characters.' The organism is Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, and lacks a capsule, spores, and motility.
Reader's Guide
Corynebacterium renale is significant as a causative agent of bovine urinary tract infections, leading to economic losses in cattle production. Its sensitivity to a broad range of antibiotics, including penicillins, ampicillin, cephalosporins, quinolones, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, cefuroxime, and trimethoprim, makes it generally treatable. However, diagnostic challenges exist due to similarities with Corynebacterium cystitidis, which may lead to misdiagnosis in beef cattle. Accurate identification is important for appropriate treatment and management.
Did You Know?
- Corynebacterium renale forms ramified aggregations in culture that look like 'Chinese characters.'
- It is sensitive to the majority of antibiotics, including penicillins, ampicillin, cephalosporins, quinolones, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, cefuroxime, and trimethoprim.
- Due to similarities in diagnostic testing, Corynebacterium cystitidis may be misdiagnosed as Corynebacterium renale in beef cattle.
- The bacterium is nonencapsulated, nonsporulated, and immobile.
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