Actinomyces

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Aktinomyces are gram-positive, pleomorphic organisms.

Morphology and physiology

They form long branched V- and Y-shaped fibers. These fibers can break down into rods or cocci. Due to their appearance they resemble fungi, but they are bacteria (related to mycobacteria, corynebacteria, nocardia and rothia).

Representatives

  • A. israeli
  • A. naeslundii
  • A. viscousus
  • A. meyeri
  • A. gerencseriae

Cultivation

Microaerophilic actinomycetes are difficult to cultivate. They grow slowly and only on special soils under anaerobic conditions. They require presence CO2 and growth is supported by the addition of sugar.

Pathogenicity

Diseases and therapy

Actinomycetes cause actinomycosis.

They are treated by surgical intervention in combination with parenteral penicillin, initially in large doses.

Diagnosis

Reliable diagnosis is possible only by microbiological evidence from the preparation and culture. Due to the complexity, it is performed only in specialized laboratories from the sent pus.


Bibliography

  • BEDNÁŘ, M – FRAŇKOVÁ, V – SCHINDLER, J, et al. Lékařská mikrobiologie – bakteriologie, virologie, parazitologie. 1. edition. Praha : Marvil, 1996. 558 pp. ISBN 80-238-0297-6.


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