Moraxella facts for kids
Moraxella is a type of tiny living thing called bacteria. These bacteria are so small you need a microscope to see them! They belong to a group known as "gram-negative" bacteria, which is a way scientists classify them based on their cell walls.
The name Moraxella comes from a Swiss eye doctor named Victor Morax. These bacteria often look like short rods or tiny oval shapes under the microscope. One important type, Moraxella catarrhalis, looks like two tiny round shapes joined together.
Quick facts for kids Moraxella |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Proteobacteria |
| Class: | Gammaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Pseudomonadales |
| Family: | Moraxellaceae |
| Genus: | Moraxella Lwoff, 1939 |
| Type species | |
| Moraxella lacunata |
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| Species | |
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M. atlantae |
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Moraxella and Your Health
Moraxella bacteria often live harmlessly on the moist surfaces inside our bodies, like in our nose or throat. They are usually "friendly" and don't cause problems. However, sometimes they can cause infections, especially if someone is already sick or has a weak immune system. This is called an opportunistic infection.
Moraxella catarrhalis
M. catarrhalis is the most common type of Moraxella that affects humans. It usually lives in the breathing passages. But if someone has a long-term lung problem or their body's defenses are weak, it can move into the lower parts of the lungs.
- Lung Infections: It can cause infections in the lower breathing tubes and lungs, like tracheobronchitis (inflammation of the windpipe and bronchial tubes) and pneumonia (a serious lung infection). This is especially true for older people with conditions like COPD (a type of lung disease) or chronic bronchitis (long-lasting inflammation of the bronchial tubes).
- Ear and Sinus Infections: M. catarrhalis is also a common cause of otitis media (middle ear infections) and sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses). These infections can cause pain and discomfort.
- Less Serious: While it can cause infections, M. catarrhalis is usually less harmful than some other bacteria, like Haemophilus influenzae. It rarely causes very serious infections that spread through the blood (like bacteremia) or affect the brain and spinal cord (like meningitis).
Moraxella lacunata
Moraxella lacunata is another type of Moraxella that can affect people. It is known to cause an eye infection called blepharoconjunctivitis. This infection makes the eyelids and the white part of the eye (conjunctiva) red and swollen.
Moraxella bovis
Moraxella bovis is a type of Moraxella that affects only cattle. It causes a common eye disease in cows called infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, which farmers sometimes call "New Forest eye."
- Eye Disease in Cattle: This bacterium lives on the surface of the eye. It causes a serious infection that can lead to ulcers on the cornea (the clear front part of the eye). If not treated, it can even cause the eye to rupture.
- Treatment: Vets can treat this infection with special medicines, often given as an injection near the eye or as drops.
- Spread: Flies can carry M. bovis from one cow to another. So, controlling flies on farms, especially in summer, can help prevent the disease from spreading. If an eye is too badly damaged, a vet might need to remove it, but cows usually recover well from this procedure.
