Afipia

Pronunciation: ă-fip′ē-ă

Definition: A genus of gram-negative, oxidase-positive, motile, nonfermenting bacteria that have been placed in the class Proteobacteria. They are morphologically variable, appearing as rods or filaments that may stain poorly. More than 10 species have been identified; originally reported to be the agent of catscratch disease, their current pathogenic role remains uncertain. The type strain is A. felis. Other human isolates are A. clavelandensis and A. broomeae.

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