Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
coccobacillus
Noun
/ˌkɒkəʊbəˈsɪləs/
Definition
A coccobacillus is a type of bacteria that is oval or rod-shaped, and it exhibits characteristics of both cocci (spherical bacteria) and bacilli (rod-shaped bacteria).
Examples
- The bacterium Haemophilus influenzae is classified as a coccobacillus.
- Coccobacilli are often seen in medical microbiology as potential pathogens.
- Under the microscope, coccobacilli can appear as short, oval rods that may also show clustering.
Meaning
Coccobacilli are often associated with various diseases in humans and animals and can be found in certain infections as part of the normal flora of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
Synonyms
- Oval bacilli
- Coccoid bacilli
