Laribacter hongkongensis

A novel type of bacterium first isolated in Hong Kong in 2001 from the blood and empyema (pus in the chest) of a man with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Laribacter hongkongensis has been associated with (but not yet proven to cause) community-acquired gastroenteritis and traveler's diarrhea.

Risk factors for infection include consumption of fish and minced freshwater fish meat.

Laribacter hongkongensis has now been recorded in countries in Asia (China and Japan), Europe (Switzerland), Africa (Tunisia), and Central America (Cuba), suggesting that the bacterium is of worldwide importance.

Has now been recorded in countries in Asia (China and Japan), Europe (Switzerland), Africa (Tunisia), and Central America (Cuba), suggesting that the bacterium is of worldwide importance.

In technical terms, Laribacter hongkongensisis a facultative anaerobic, motile, non-sporulating, non-fermentative, urease-positive, gram-negative, S-shaped bacillus, and belongs to the Neisseriaceae family of the ß-subclass of Proteobacteria.