ActinomycesSuperkingdom: Prokarya Kingdom: BacteriaSubkingdom: Eubacteria Domain: Bacteria Phylum: ActinobacteriaClass: "Actinobacteria“Subclass: ActinobacteridaeOrder : “Actinomycetales” Suborder: “Actinomyceneae” Family Actinomycetaceae Genus: Actinomyces

Actinomyces Gram positive Branching filaments of less than 1μm in d.m

long, V, Y, and T configuration and pleomorphism

Lesions have the pus containing small pale yellow granules referred as sulfur granules which is composed of bacterial filaments and mineralized calcium phosphate of host origin.

Called ray fungus Non-acid fast Non-spore forming Non motile higher bacteria Non-capsulated Do not form endospores or conidia.

I). General FactsI). General Facts

•Called ActinomycetesCalled Actinomycetes

•Called "higher bacteria" because they Called "higher bacteria" because they have culture characteristics similar to have culture characteristics similar to fungi.fungi.

•Filamentation.Filamentation.

•Branching.Branching.

•Production of aerial hyphae withProduction of aerial hyphae with asexual spores or conidia. asexual spores or conidia.

•Some organisms produce club-shaped cells Some organisms produce club-shaped cells

and acid-fast elements that resemble and acid-fast elements that resemble

corynebacteria and certain mycobacteria. corynebacteria and certain mycobacteria.

•ActinomycesActinomyces pyogenespyogenes used to be called used to be called

CorynebacteriumCorynebacterium pyogenespyogenes..

•A. pyogenesA. pyogenes is now called is now called Arcanobacterium Arcanobacterium

pyogenespyogenes (1997). (1997).

II). ActinomycesII). Actinomyces

•Characteristics of Pathogenic SpeciesCharacteristics of Pathogenic Species

•Main pathogens areMain pathogens are A. bovis, A. A. bovis, A. viscosus, and A. pyogenes. viscosus, and A. pyogenes.

•Natural habitat in soil for many Natural habitat in soil for many species. species.

Pathogenic species are commensals ofPathogenic species are commensals oforal and nasal cavities and genital oral and nasal cavities and genital tract. tract.

A.A.israeliiisraelii infects humans (oral cavity infects humans (oral cavity commensal). commensal).

Non-motile.Non-motile.

B). B). Actinomyces bovisActinomyces bovis

Facultative, but likes CO2.Facultative, but likes CO2.Wide variation in cell morphologyWide variation in cell morphologyMorphology depends on age of culture,Morphology depends on age of culture,aerobic/anaerobic conditions, growth aerobic/anaerobic conditions, growth medium,medium,and strain used.and strain used.

Actinomyces bovis - lumpy jaw

a. Entry through the oral cavity - affects the mandible and produces abscesses and open draining sinuses b. Rarefying osteomyelitisc. Necrotic lesions with pusd. Connective tissue groups in the bone creating a tumor-like structuree. Pus contains cheese-like granules and "sulfur" granules which are mycelial masses - used diagnostically

Actinomyces bovis:

Lumpy jaw in cattle. Present as flora in mouth of cattle. Transmission:  Wounds of mucous membranes of mouth. Swine:  mammary gland infections. Horse:  poll evil and  fistulous withers (+ Brucella). Causes a rarefying osteomyelitis dense tumor-like mass of face and jaw.

Actinomyces viscosus

Abscesses in dogs, mainly skin, also thorax with extension in to the abdominal cavity. Usually due to wounds in hunting dogs.

Predisposing factors:

•Low-quality dry stalky feed, grass seeds, coarse hay and scrub can cause mouth abrasions which allow entry of infection. These factors are commonly associated with dry times and drought. Breaks in the gums that occur as teeth erupt in young animals can also predispose to lumpy jaw. Ironically, increased incidence has also been reported after flooding.

Gram positive branching filaments, rods, and cocci, non-sporeforming, non-motile, higher bacteria.

Actinomyces bovisActinomyces bovis

Cellular MorphologyCellular Morphology

Actinomyces bovis, gram-stained smear, high power. Note the characteristic branching nature of these slender gram-positive rods.

Cultural characteristics: Capanophillic, anaerobic or facultative.

Growth requirements: Serum/blood supplement needed.

Lumpy jaw produces lumps on the upper and lower jawbones, hence the common name ‘lumpy jaw’.

These lumps are immovable hard swellings of the bones, usually at the level of the central molar teeth.

The swellings develop slowly and may take months to reach the size of a tennis ball.

They consist of honeycombed masses of thin bone filled with yellow pus. If neglected the swellings may become very large.

In advanced cases, sinuses or openings develop and discharge small amounts of sticky pus containing gritty yellow granules.

Unlike the case with wooden tongue, the local lymph nodes do not become involved.

Bovine Bovine Lumpy JawLumpy Jaw

one side of the grossly enlarged lower jaw of an animal that was euthanased because of a very severe case of lumpy jaw.

Morphology:Gram positive branching filaments, rods, and cocci, non-sporeforming, non-motile, higher bacteria.

Cultural characteristics: Carbonophillic, anaerobic or facultative. All the species are catalase negative except A. viscosus. Growth requirements: Serum/blood supplement needed.

Resistance: Can survive in nature for 3 to 8 weeks under shade, but are inactivated in direct sun light.

Lumpy jaw, cow. Classic mandibular lesion of suppurative and proliferative osteomyelitis in a cow caused by Actinomyces bovis.

Lumpy jaw, cow. Classic mandibular lesion of suppurative and proliferative osteomyelitis in a cow caused by Actinomyces bovis.

Pulmonary disease may result from Pulmonary disease may result from aspiration of infectious material.aspiration of infectious material. Swallowing infectious material can cause Swallowing infectious material can cause visceral or abdominal disease. visceral or abdominal disease.Pus in lesions has sulfur granulesPus in lesions has sulfur granules(composed of (composed of A. bovisA. bovis organisms held organisms heldtogether by a polysaccharide-protein together by a polysaccharide-protein complex).complex).1 to 3 mm in diameter.1 to 3 mm in diameter.

Actinomyces bovisActinomyces bovis Sulfur Granules Sulfur Granules

             Horse:  poll evil and  fistulous withers (+ Brucella).

  Horse:  poll evil and  fistulous withers (+ Brucella).

          In sulfur granules, bacteria are protectedIn sulfur granules, bacteria are protectedfrom host defenses.from host defenses.To demonstrate To demonstrate A. bovisA. bovis, best sample to, best sample toexamine is pus.examine is pus. Wash pus to expose sulfur granules. Wash pus to expose sulfur granules. Place granules on slide, treat with Place granules on slide, treat with 10% NaOH, and crush with a coverslip. 10% NaOH, and crush with a coverslip. Material can be smeared and stained. Material can be smeared and stained. Diversity of forms can be present including Diversity of forms can be present including cocci, rods, filaments, branching forms, cocci, rods, filaments, branching forms, club-shaped forms, spirals. club-shaped forms, spirals.A. bovisA. bovis infections are treatable infections are treatable

Diagnosis:

•Examination of drained fluid under a microscope demonstrates "sulfur granules" in the fluid

•Examination under a microscope shows the presence of Actinomyces species of bacteria

•A culture of the tissue or fluid shows Actinomyces species

Treatment:

The most effective treatment is probably iodine therapy. The initial dose of sodium iodide is best given intravenously. Follow-up subcutaneous injections at weekly intervals for several weeks are likely to be necessary in deep-seated cases. However, subcutaneous treatment alone may be effective.

Treatment with tetracyclines daily for five days is also reported to be effective.

Advanced cases may require surgical drainage, and opened abscesses should be irrigated or swabbed with iodine for several days. All treated animals should be observed regularly, as relapses can occur.

If the disease is detected early, it may be better to dispose of the animal while it is still in good condition

Actinomyces pyogenes

Commensal on mucous membranes of nasopharynx of cattle, sheep, and swine. PUS PRODUCER Abscesses in cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. Opportunistic infections:              Wounds              Umbilicus of calves              Endometritis              Pyometra              Mastitis              Pneumonia              Surgical incisions   Virulence factors:  protease and hemolysin.

C). C). A.viscosus

is aerobic and catalase-positive, different from other Actinomycetes.

Non-acid-fast, non-motile.

Can make diphtheroid forms and filamentous forms; both found in sulfur granules; no club shapes in sulfur granules.

Causes canine pulmonary actinomycosis. Causes canine pulmonary actinomycosis.

Also causes skin disease with localizedAlso causes skin disease with localizedgranulomatous abscesses. granulomatous abscesses.

Infections can be contracted by dogs Infections can be contracted by dogs licking skin wounds. licking skin wounds.

Organism may be difficult to culture;Organism may be difficult to culture;large amounts of exudate must be culturedlarge amounts of exudate must be cultured

D). Arcanobacterium pyogenes

Used to be called Corynebacterium pyogenes,then called Actinomyces pyogenes, and now is Arcanobacterium pyogenes (1997).

Wide variation exists between different strains and between cells of the same strain.

Most often occurs as small, Gram-positive rods that may be clubbed at one end.

This is the reason why the organisms wereclassified with the corynebacteria.

Actinomyces suis

Mycotic granuloma in mammary glands of sows due to sharp teeth of piglets.

Actinomyces spp. in cats:  subq. abscesses.  Organism in cats mouth.