BSCI 424 — PATHOGENIC MICROBIOLOGY — Fall 2000

Nocardia Summary

Nocardia:

  CMN group: Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Nocardia are grouped together on the basis of distinguishing factors that include complex cell wall components, presence and type of mycolic acids, adjuvant activity, presence of cord factor, sulfolipids, iron-chelating compounds, polyphosphate, and serological cross-reactivity

  Acid-fast, unlike the morphologically similar Actinomycetes (see WebLinked images)

  Long filamentous organisms (see WebLinked images)

  Common flora of soil, aquatic environment, humans and other animals

  Nocardiosis can be acute but more often presents as a chronic suppurative infection, primarily a bronchopulmonary disease with predilection for secondary spread through blood to central nervous system or skin; occasionally a primary cutaneous or ocular infection or mycetoma

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