Diphtheria is an acute disease caused by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (in some cases also by Corynebacterium ulcerans ) bacteria, that is known to colonise mucous membranes.
Kurkkumätä on äkillinen tauti, jonka aiheuttaja on Corynebacterium diphtheriae (joskus Corynebacterium ulcerans ) -bakteerin myrkkyä (toksiinia) tuottava kanta, joka elää limakalvoilla.