CAMP Test | Principle | Uses | Procedure

Ⅰ. Overview

CAMP test has been widely used since its discovery, Christie et al 1944, in diagnostic microbiology for the presumptive identification of Streptococcus agalactiae (an important cause of neonatal infections).

The CAMP reaction is a phenomenon of co-hemolysis which consists of a zone of strong hemolysis which is observed when S. agalactiae, which produces the CAMP factor, is streaked next to Staphylococcus aureus, which secretes sphingomyelinase, on sheep blood agar.

CAMP is an acronym for the authors of this test (Christie, Atkinson, Munch, Peterson).

Ⅱ. Principle

Ⅲ. Procedure and results

The CAMP test is performed on standard dishes of sheep blood agar or trypticase soy agar +5% sheep blood.

• Using an inoculation loop, streak beta-lysine-producing Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) in a straight line through the center of a plate of sheep blood agar.
• the test organism in a straight line perpendicular to S. aureus leaving a space of 1 cm between the two streaks. (Multiple organisms can be tested on a single plate if spaced 3-4 mm apart).
• Incubate the box at 37 degrees for 18-24 hours

⚡ CAMP test for the identification of Listeria monocytogenes

In 1962, Fraser, G. was the first to observe the synergistic lysis of sheep red blood cells by L. monocytogenes and S. aureus or Rhodococcus equi.

The CAMP test can be used to differentiate hemolytic Listeria species; L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii and L. seeligeri.

Hemolysis by L. monocytogenes and to a lesser degree L. seeligeri is enhanced in the vicinity of S. aureus and hemolysis by L. ivanovii is enhanced in the vicinity of the R. equi streak (cholesterol oxidase). Listeria factors responsible for synergistic lysis of red blood cells with S. aureus and Rhodococcus. equi are respectively PLC and LLO (Listeriolysin O).

Note : The CAMP test has been reviewed for its applicability and it has been shown that sometimes it cannot properly differentiate between L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii

⚡ The reverse CAMP test

A reverse CAMP reaction is a reaction whereby hemolysis by beta-hemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus (or S. intermedius) is inhibited by the production of phospholipase D (or phospholipase C).

Ⅳ. Notes

• If the agar is too runny or haemolysed, the reaction may be very weak .
• Isolates with a negative CAMP test could still be S. agalactiae and require further testing .
• S. pyogenes can give a reaction which can be interpreted as positive (S. pyogenes is positive for pyrrolidonyl-β-naphthylamide (PYR) but S. agalactiae is negative for PYR).
• The following Gram-positive bacilli are CAMP positive: Rhodococcus equi, L. monocytogenes, Propionibacterium avidum/granulosum, Actinomyces neuii, Turicella otitidis, Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum, Corynebacterium coyleae, Corynebacterium imitans and certain strains of the Corynebacterium striatum and Corynebacterium afermentans group. (14)
• Prolonged incubation times or high incubation temperatures may give false positive results.