Bacterium
Capnocytophaga species
Capnophilic gliding rod of dog and human oral flora
kap-no-sy-TOFF-uh-guh
High-yield clue
Fulminant sepsis after a dog or cat bite in an asplenic or immunocompromised person is the classic C. canimorsus study clue.
Overview
A group of fastidious, capnophilic (CO2-loving) Gram-negative rods that show gliding motility. Zoonotic species such as C. canimorsus are part of dog and cat oral flora, while other species are human oral commensals.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Rod (fusiform)
- Capnophilic
- Gliding motility
- Facultative anaerobe
Lab & identification clues
- Slow, CO2-dependent (capnophilic) growth vocabulary
- Long thin fusiform rods on smear
- PCR/16S identification concept
- Oxidase and catalase positive (C. canimorsus)
Associations
- Dog or cat bite transmission (C. canimorsus)
- Asplenia and alcohol use as risk-factor vocabulary
- Sepsis, meningitis, endocarditis study associations
- Human oral commensal species in neutropenic hosts
Commonly confused with
- Pasteurella multocida
- Eikenella corrodens
Frequently asked questions
What is Capnocytophaga species?
A group of fastidious, capnophilic (CO2-loving) Gram-negative rods that show gliding motility. Zoonotic species such as C. canimorsus are part of dog and cat oral flora, while other species are human oral commensals.
What is the Gram stain of Capnocytophaga species?
Capnocytophaga species is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Capnocytophaga species?
Lab clues for Capnocytophaga species include Slow, CO2-dependent (capnophilic) growth vocabulary; Long thin fusiform rods on smear; PCR/16S identification concept; Oxidase and catalase positive (C. canimorsus).
What is Capnocytophaga species commonly confused with?
Capnocytophaga species is commonly confused with Pasteurella multocida and Eikenella corrodens.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.