Capnocytophaga canimorsus

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative, fusiform, filamentous bacilli assigned to the phylum Bacteroidetes. This species is motile, non-spore forming, oxidase positive catalase positive, indole and urease negative, reduces nitrite, but not nitrate, and hydrolyzes esculin. C. canimorsus can be transmitted to humans through dog or cat bites where the bacteria causes septicemia and meningitis in humans particularly individuals that have undergone a splenectomy or alcoholism.

**Synonyms:** - CAPNOCYTOPHAGA CANIMORSUS - CDC Group DF-2