Bordet-Gengou agar is used to isolate which organism?

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Bordet-Gengou agar is a specialized culture medium designed to isolate Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium that causes whooping cough. Its potato extract–glycerol base provides nutrients that support the growth of B. pertussis, while the medium is formulated to suppress many other competing organisms, helping the pathogen grow from nasopharyngeal specimens. Growth on this medium is typically slow, with small, convex colonies appearing after several days.

Haemophilus influenzae needs X and V factors and is best grown on chocolate or specialized supplemented media, not Bordet-Gengou. Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires Lowenstein-Jensen or Middlebrook media and special staining, not this medium. Staphylococcus aureus grows readily on general media like blood agar and is not selectively cultured on Bordet-Gengou. So the medium is specifically chosen for Bordetella pertussis.