15TH SEPTEMBER, 2017

PRACTICAL 4
GRAM POSITIVE COCCI: STAPHYLOCOCCI
1. a. Describe the colonial morphology (cultural characteristics) of Staphylococcus aureus.

Medium
Colony size
Elevation
Edge
Surface
Consistency
Colour
Opacity
Emulsifiability
Medium changes:
Pigment
Haemolysis
Fermentation
Microscopic appearance:
Gram reaction
Shape
Arrangement
 GUIDE FOR CHARACTERISATION OF COLONIAL MORPHOLOGY
1. Medium: e.g. Blood Agar, Chocolate Agar, Nutrient Agar, etc.
2. Colony size (mm): 1, 2, 4, etc.
3. Elevation: flat, low convex, domed, high convex
4. Edge: entire, irregular, crenated, rhizoidal, fimbriated (wavy), serrated
5. Surface: smooth, matt, shiny, rough, dull, glistening
6. Consistency: mucoid, non-mucoid (butyrous), brittle
7. Colour: white, grey, cream, yellow, pink, rose-pink, black, colourless, golden
yellow
8. Opacity: translucent, opaque, transparent
9. Emulsifiability: Emulsifiable

Other Characteristics

10. Smell
11. Medium changes: Haemolytic reaction, Lactose Fermentation, Pigmentation
(Colour)
12. Microscopic appearance: Gram stain
- Gram reaction
- Shape (and size)
- Cell Arrangement

b. Note the pigment produced by S. aureus and S. albus.

Organism Pigment
S. aureus
S. albus

c. Observe the catalase test which has been performed on Staphylococcus and record your
results. State the principle of the Catalase test.

Catalase Test
Organism Observation Result
Staphylococcus spp.
Streptococcus spp.
d. Observe the coagulase test (slide/tube) performed on Staphylococcus and record your
results. State the principle of the Coagulase test.

Coagulase Test
Organism Observation Result
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus albus

e. Perform Gram stain on S. aureus and record the microscopic appearance. Draw and
colour.

f. i. Observe and record the type of haemolytic reactions shown by the Staphylococcus
and Streptococcus on Blood Agar and Chocolate Agar plates.
Haemolytic reaction of organisms on BA plate
Organism Type of haemolytic reaction
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Staphylococcus aureus

ii. List some clinical specimen that would produce the organisms on the BA/CA plates

g. Observe the CA plate to distinguish Streptococcus pneumoniae from S. viridans using

the Optochin disc. Draw and label.

h. Examine the CA plate provided. What is the characteristic description of Streptococcus

pneumoniae colonies?

i. Observe the candle (CO2) jar for the incubation of Streptococcus spp.
j. Draw the Bile Solubility Test results and indicate for each, which test organism it is.