meningococcus

meningococcus
—meningococcal, meningococcic /meuh ning'goh kok"ik, -kok"sik/, adj.
/meuh ning'goh kok"euhs/, n., pl. meningococci /-kok"suy, -see/.
a reniform or spherical bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, that causes cerebrospinal meningitis.
[1890-95; < NL; see MENINGES, -O-, COCCUS]

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Neisseria meningitidis, the bacterium that causes meningococcal meningitis in humans, the only natural hosts in which it causes disease.

Meningococci are spherical, frequently occur in pairs, and are strongly gram-negative (see gram stain). They enter the nasal passage and may cause no symptoms (up to 30% of the population may harbour them between epidemics), or they may enter the bloodstream and produce the symptoms of meningitis.

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▪ bacteria species
      the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which causes meningococcal meningitis in humans, who are the only natural hosts in which it causes disease. The bacteria are spherical, ranging in diameter from 0.6 to 1.0 μm (micrometre; 1 μm = 10-6 metre); they frequently occur in pairs, with adjacent sides flattened. They are strongly gram-negative. These bacteria enter the nasopharynx; meningococcal infections in the nasopharynx may cause no symptoms—up to 30 percent of the population may harbour them between epidemics—or may enter the bloodstream and produce the symptoms of meningitis.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • meningococcus — [mə niŋ΄gō käk′əs] n. pl. meningococci [mə niŋ΄gōkäk′sī΄] the bacterium (Neisseria meningitidis) that is a common cause of meningitis meningococcal [mə niŋ΄gōkäk′əl] adj. meningococcic [mə niŋ΄gōkäk′sik] …   English World dictionary

  • Meningococcus — Neisseria meningitidis Neisseria meningitidis …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Meningococcus — A type of bacteria now formally known as Neisseria meningitidis, which is responsible for a number of meningococcal diseases including epidemic bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord. In technical… …   Medical dictionary

  • meningococcus — noun (plural meningococci) Etymology: New Latin Date: circa 1893 the bacterium (Neisseria meningitidis) that causes cerebrospinal meningitis • meningococcal also meningococcic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • meningococcus — Neisseria meningitidis; Gram negative non motile pyogenic coccus that is responsible for epidemic bacterial meningitis …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • meningococcus — noun A pathogenic bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, that causes cerebrospinal meningitis See Also: coccus …   Wiktionary

  • meningococcus — n. bacteria which causing infection of the meninges (Bacteriology) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • meningococcus — [mɪˌnɪŋgəʊ kɒkəs, ˌnɪndʒəʊ ] noun (plural meningococci kɒk(s)ʌɪ, kɒk(s)i:) a bacterium involved in some forms of meningitis. [Neisseria meningitidis.] Derivatives meningococcal adjective …   English new terms dictionary

  • meningococcus — me·nin·go·coc·cus …   English syllables

  • meningococcus — n.; pl. meningococci the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which can cause a serious form of septicaemia and is a common cause of meningitis. Derivatives: meningococcal adj …   The new mediacal dictionary

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