A genus of bacteria which includes gonococcus, which causes gonorrhoea, and meningococcus, which causes meningitis.
Commensal Neisseriae of (usually) the respiratory tract, these organisms are rarely (if ever) intracellular, grow sans serum or blood, and are differentiated from the gonococcus and meningococcus by carbohydrate reactions.
A genus of spherical Gram-negative aerobic nonmotile bacteria characteristically grouped in pairs. They are parasites of animals, and some species are normal inhabitants of the respiratory tract of man. The species N. gonorrhoeae (the gonococcus) causes gonorrhea. Gonococci are found within pus cells of urethral and vaginal discharge; they can be cultured only on serum or blood agar. N. meningitidis (the meningococcus) causes cerebrospinal fever and meningitis. Meningococci are found within pus cells of infected cerebrospinal fluid and blood or in the nasal passages of carriers. They too can only be cultured on serum or blood agar.
A genus of gram-negative diplococci of the family Neisseriaceae. The most significant human pathogens are Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonococcus).