All Notes

Hemolysis and Hemodigestion: Introduction, Differences, and Related Footages

Introduction of Hemolysis and Hemodigestion

When the pure isolated colony of organism on a blood agar plate is exposed in bright transmitted light, we differentiate between hemolysis and hemodigestion since hemolysis is the process of killing blood cells by bacteria, and the area surrounding a single colony becomes partial clear (alpha hemolysis e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae ) or completely clear (beta hemolysis e.g. Streptococcus agalactiae) whereas in hemodigestion no clear zone can be seen near single colony but can be observed near the dense streaked area of the bacteria (Vibrio cholerae).

Hemolysis (left)-Beta-hemolysis of S. aureus on blood agar in bright transmitted light and Hemodigestion (right)- Vibrio cholerae on blood agar

Difference between Hemolysis and Hemodigestion

The differences between hemolysis and hemodigestion are summarized as follows-

HemolysisHemodigestion
A clear zone surrounding a single colony A clear zone near the dense streaked area
A clear zone with debrisA clear zone without debris
Bacteria use hemolysins that cause lysis of blood cells.It is the nonspecific killing of blood cells by metabolic by-products of bacteria.
Microbes responsible for hemolysis mainly express partial and complete hemolysis. e.g. Streptococcus pneumoniae (partial hemolysis) and Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae (clear zone)Microbes responsible for hemodigestion mainly express the greenish zone that appears around the colonies and later becomes clear. e.g. Vibrio cholerae
Table: Differences between hemolysis and haemodigestion

Alpha hemolysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Fig. Alpha hemolysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Beta-hemolysis of Staphylococcus aureus

Fig. Beta-hemolysis of Staphylococcus aureus

Streptococcus pyogenes beta-hemolytic colony

Fig. Streptococcus pyogenes beta-hemolytic colony

Streptococcus agalactiae beta-hemolytic colony on blood agar of high vaginal swab culture

Fig. Streptococcus agalactiae beta-hemolytic colony on blood agar of high vaginal swab culture

The greenish colonies of Vibrio cholerae on blood agar

Fig. The greenish colonies of Vibrio cholerae on blood agar later become clear as shown below image.

Hemodigestion on blood agar by Vibrio cholerae

Fig. Hemodigestion on blood agar by Vibrio cholerae

Hemodigestion on blood agar by bacteria

Fig. Hemodigestion on blood agar by bacteria

Further Reading

  1. researchgate.net/post/Difference_between_Hemolysis_and_Hemodigestion
  2. https://universe84a.com/collection/blood-agar-haemodigestion/
  3. awetz, Melnick and Adelberg’s Medical Microbiology. Editors: Geo. F. Brook, Janet S. Butel & Stephen A. Morse, 21st ed 1998, Publisher Appleton & Lance, Co Stamford Connecticut.
  4. Mackie and Mc Cartney Practical Medical Microbiology. Editors: J.G. Colle, A.G. Fraser, B.P. Marmion, A. Simmous, 4th ed, Publisher Churchill Living Stone, New York, Melborne, Sans Franscisco 1996.
  5. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. Editors: P.R. Murray, E. J. Baron, M. A. Pfaller, F. C. Tenover and R. H. Yolken, 7th ed 2005, Publisher ASM, USA
  6. District Laboratory Practice in  Tropical Countries  –  Part-2-   Monica Cheesebrough-   2nd Edn Update
  7. Text book of Diagnostic Microbiology. Editors: Connie R. Mahon, Donald G. Lehman & George Manuselis, 3rd edition2007, Publisher Elsevier.
  8. https://www.jfmed.uniba.sk/fileadmin/jlf/Pracoviska/ustav-mikrobiologie-a-imunologie/VLa/STREPTOCOCCI.pdf
Medical Lab Notes

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