Open AccessMouse pathogenicity studies of Nocardia asteroides complex species and clinical correlation with human isolates
Author(s) -
Desmond Edward P.,
Flores Martha
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb06335.x
Subject(s) - nocardia , nocardiaceae , biology , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogenicity , sensu stricto , species complex , nocardiosis , actinomycetales , inoculation , nocardia infections , bacteria , zoology , genetics , immunology , gene , streptomyces , phylogenetic tree
Nocardia asteroides complex organisms derived from human specimens between 1979 and 1992 were identified on the species level. Of 117 N. asteroides complex organisms, 34 (29%) were N. farcinica , 28 (24%) were N. nova , and 55 (47%) were N. asteroides sensu stricto . An analysis of the specimen sites from which the organisms were derived showed that isolates derived from blood, brain, or bone marrow were more likely to be N. farcinica than the other two species. A study of the virulence of ten strains of each species was undertaken, using a mouse model with intravenous inoculation. The 50% lethal doses (LD 50 ) for N. farcinica were significantly lower than those of the other two species. LD 50 values for N. nova and N. asteroides were not significantly different. The above data confirming the greater virulence of N. farcinica support the identification of species within the N. asteroides complex.