Neisseria Meningitidis
Habitat & Geography
Where can Neisseria Meningitidis be found?
N.
Meningitidis mainly resides in the nose and throat of
humans. It can be found in about 2-8% of humans
that are carriers of the bacteria in a normal setting.
The bacteria is found in much higher percentages in
areas where many people are living together. At
some military camps, for example, as high as 40% of the
people are carriers of the bacteria. N. Meningitidis cannot grow at temperatures below 30°C.
This bacteria can also only grow where fatty acids and
trace metals are also present. The nose and throat of
humans is perfect because of the warm temperatures in
both of these areas.
There are many strains of N. Meningitidis that have cause epidemics around the world. The most important strains are A, B, C, X, Y and W135.
Strain A is found most often in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Strain B is found mainly in the United Kingdom and an epidemic of this strain was also reported in New Zealand.
Strain C is has caused epidemics in the United Kingdom.
Strain Y has emerged as the cause of disease in North America.
Strain X was reported to cause an outbreak in Niger.
Strain W135 has shown up along the annual pilgrimage to Mecca especially in the country of Saudi Arabia.
Since N. Meningitidis is non motile there have not been many adaptations that it has had to make. Its habitat, which is the nose and throat area of human beings, does not go under drastic temperature changes or environmental changes. This bacteria has become resistant to penicillin and some antibiotics in some of its forms however.
Getting Bored? Just wait until you see its Reproduction!
N.
Meningitidis mainly resides in the nose and throat of
humans. It can be found in about 2-8% of humans
that are carriers of the bacteria in a normal setting.
The bacteria is found in much higher percentages in
areas where many people are living together. At
some military camps, for example, as high as 40% of the
people are carriers of the bacteria. N. Meningitidis cannot grow at temperatures below 30°C.
This bacteria can also only grow where fatty acids and
trace metals are also present. The nose and throat of
humans is perfect because of the warm temperatures in
both of these areas.There are many strains of N. Meningitidis that have cause epidemics around the world. The most important strains are A, B, C, X, Y and W135.
Strain A is found most often in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Strain B is found mainly in the United Kingdom and an epidemic of this strain was also reported in New Zealand.
Strain C is has caused epidemics in the United Kingdom.
Strain Y has emerged as the cause of disease in North America.
Strain X was reported to cause an outbreak in Niger.
Strain W135 has shown up along the annual pilgrimage to Mecca especially in the country of Saudi Arabia.
Since N. Meningitidis is non motile there have not been many adaptations that it has had to make. Its habitat, which is the nose and throat area of human beings, does not go under drastic temperature changes or environmental changes. This bacteria has become resistant to penicillin and some antibiotics in some of its forms however.
Getting Bored? Just wait until you see its Reproduction!
