Analyse the differences between alpha haemolysis and beta haemolysis in terms of their effects on red blood cells. Which statement accurately describes their impact?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To tackle this question, I’ll evaluate what each type of haemolysis does to red blood cells and how that typically appears on blood agar.
Option a: 'Alpha haemolysis oxidizes haemoglobin to methaemoglobin, while beta haemolysis involves complete lysis' This aligns with standard microbiology: alpha haemolysis causes partial haemolysis of red blood cells and the hemoglobin is oxidized to a greenish methaemoglobin, giving a greenish halo. Beta haemolysis results in complete lysis of red cells, producing a clear zone around colonies. The statement correctly ties alpha to methemoglobin formation and beta to full lysis.
Option b: 'Alpha haemolysis is non-haemolytic, and beta haemolysis involves partial lysis' This is inaccurate because alpha haemolysis is a form of partial haemolysis (not non-haemolytic) and beta is not partial lysis; it is complete lysis. So this option mischaracterizes both processes.
Option c: 'Alpha haemolysis results in a clear zone, while beta haemolysis produces a greenish discolouration' This flips the typical appearances: alpha gives a greenish discoloration due to methemoglobin formation, not a clear zone; beta creates a clear zone from complete lysis. Thus this option describes the signs incorrectly.
Option d: 'Both alpha and beta haemolysis lead to complete lysis of red blood cells' This is incorrect because only beta haemolysis leads to complete lysis; alpha is partial lysis with a green halo, not complete clearing. The statement overgeneralizes and is false.
In summary, option a accurately describes the distinct effects of alpha and beta haemolysis on red blood cells, while options b, c, and d contain factual inaccuracies about the processes and their visual signs on culture media.

My LMS Subjects Online quiz 3

Analyse the differences between alpha haemolysis and beta haemolysis in terms of their effects on red blood cells. Which statement accurately describes their impact?

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