| Bacteroides melaninogenicus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Bacteroidetes |
| Class: | Bacteroidetes |
| Order: | Bacteroidales |
| Family: | Bacteroidaceae |
| Genus: | Bacteroides |
| Species: | melaninogenicus |
Bacteroides melaninogenicus is a normal flora found in the upper respiratory tract. it is an important human pathogen in various anaerobic infections often mixed with other aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.[1]
The name Bacteroides melaninogenicus was later changed to Prevotela melaninogenica. Steroids may facilitate growth.[2]
Prevotella spp. are part of the normal human oral and vaginal flora and are the predominant anaerobic gram negative bacilli recovered from anaerobic infections of the respiratory tract. These include aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, and chronic otitis media and sinusitis. They have been recovered also from abscesses and burns around the oral cavity, human bites, paronychia, urinary tract infection, brain abscesses, osteomyelitis and bacteremia associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Prevotella spp. play a major role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and periodontal abscesses. There will be high prevalence of Prevotela melaninogenics in the dental plaque of person with Down's syndrome. This bacteria synthesizes collagenase in periodontal disease.