title: Tellurite reduction test to aid in the recognition of Corynebacterium vaginale.
abstract: Corynebacterium vaginale (Haemophilus vaginalis) does not reduce potassium tellurite. When a 1% aqueous solution of tellurite is added to starch agar plates previously inoculated with vaginal discharge material, other starch-fermenting and most non-starch-fermenting bacteria rapidly reduce tellurite to produce black or gray colonies. This test is a useful adjunct to methods for rapid presumptive identification of C. vaginale. C. vaginale is more susceptible to tellurite inhibition than a variety of other gram-positive bacteria.
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000145:classification*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013691:Tellurium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D013691:Tellurium