Anaerobic infections caused by cultures of the Desulfovibrio genus (literature review)

N.G. Kulikova¹, A.A. Ploskireva^1,2 

¹Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow

²Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 

Bacteria of the Desulfovibrio spp genus belong to sulfate-reducing bacteria (CRP) and are indicated as a curved rod with polar flagella that does not form spores. The article discusses the prevalence of Desulfovibrio spp., its effect on intestinal microbiocenosis, as well as infections associated with Desulfovibrio spp. The presence of the Desulfovibrio spp. bacteria in the intestine is associated with various diseases. At present, there are published data on 20 cases of bacterial infection caused by Desulfovibrio spp. Human infection with Desulfovibrio spp is rare, which may be due to the low manifestation of Desulfovibrio spp invasion. The authors have considered in detail the methods of detection and identification of Desulfovibrio spp. Simple tests available in most microbiological laboratories, such as wet motility, the presence of H₂S on SIM medium and the observation of red shift fluorescence in alkaline pH under UV light indicate Desulfovibrio spp. The article also presents possible therapeutic regimens for the treatment of infections caused by these microorganisms. Studying the properties of Desulfovibrio spp. and the infections caused by them, as well as the development of new methods for patient management are urgent tasks of modern medicine, since the effect on the intestinal microbiocenosis may become a possible treatment of patients with various diseases in the future.

Keywords: sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio spp, microorganism identification, microorganism detection, anaerobic culture, intestinal microbiocenosis.

For citation: Kulikova N.G., Ploskireva A.A. Anaerobic infections caused by cultures of the Desulfovibrio genus (literature review). RMJ. 2022;8:30–33.