Gram positives Flashcards
Actinobacteria- general characteristics
related group of gram-positive organisms- form branching structures similar to fungi
non-spore forming, non-motile
ubiquitous in environment (commensals of plants and animals)
pharmacologically active metabolites- found in ABX and MSG
some genera are pathogenic for humans and animals
mycobacterium (TB)
cornyebacterium
truperella
nocardia
rodococcus
actinomyces
All have mycolic acids in cell walls–> resist phagocytosis
Actinobacterial diseases
some are opportunistic, some are highly host-adapted pathogens. Pathology is often similar: chronic inflammation, focal lesions or dissemination (within macs); granulomatous lesions (abscessed, pyelonephritis, lymphadenitis, osteomyelitis)
Immune protection to actinobacterial disease
CMI is natural host-response to infection; vaccine induced humoral immunity is effective as well.
treatment with ABX
in vitro, sensitive to many abx.
in vivo, poor response due to intracellular location
Nocardia
Strictly aerobic
aerial hyphae
widely distributed in soil, water, air and sewage
ACID FAST
non-motile, non-spore forming
12 species: pathogenic to a variety of species
Nocardia species
N. asteroides: most frequent nocardial pathogens- SQ infections in dogs acquired through environmental contact
N. brasiliensis: pneumonia in horses
N. otitidis caviarum: bovine mastitis (not very frequent cause), ear infection in guinea pigs.
N. farcinica- common isolate (genome)
Nocardia epidemiology
Organism are inhaled, ingested or get in via wound
Direct or hematogenous spread
Resist phagocytosis due to acid-fast cell wall.
Chronic invasive pyogenic infections (no production of sulphur granules)
3 clinical forms: cutaneous, respiratory (pyothorax), and systemic (pyrexia, cough, neurological)
Dogs- 3x more common in males
Cats- mainly thoracic infection
Tx is difficult and prolonged (not penicillin–> not great for intracellular infections).
Trueperella (arcanobacterium)
T. pyogenes- first described in 1946 commensal but opportunistic causes non-specific purulent lesions focal or disseminated abscesses wound infection septic arthritis- esp. in pigs secondary respiratory infections reproductive impairment: increase frequency in repro tract- big cause of metritis--> perhaps symbiosis with e. coli. Often secondary/mixed infections. Broad host spectrum
Viruelnce factors of t. pyogenes
protease (necrosis/suppuration)
hemolytic exotoxin (dermonecrotic)
neuraminidase- allows it to adhere to host cell
Pyolysin- resembles thiol-activated toxins. Thiol activated toxins have 2 cys residues that form disulfide bridge. PLO doesn’t form bridge. punches a hole between cholesterol residues of cell membrane to allow leakage of cytoplasm resulting in eventual lysis.
diseases caused by t. pyogenes
bovine abortion, porcine abscesses (caseous lesions) and porcine polyarthritis.
Actinomyces species
A. bovis, A. viscosus, A. suis Most non-acid fast, branching Non-motile, Non-spore forming Microaerophilic or anaerobic Produce pyogenic, granulomatous reactions with production of sulphur granules.
A. bovis
Component of normal mouth flora- anaerobic
Thick, yellow pus (sulphur granules)
Causes actinomycosis/lumpy jaw in cattle
Invasion through wound/rough feed/damaged mucosa- osteomyelitis (granulomas form in bone) animal stops eating
other soft tissue infection- i.e. in GI tract
mastitis: perhaps from suckling damage.
A. viscosus
Mainly dogs (but also pigs, goats, cats, cattle and horses)
Virulence factor: fimbriae- adherence to teeth- plaque?
Similar lesions to Nocardia (but nocardia doesn’t produce sulphur granules)
Localized, pyogranulomatous lesions
Two main conditions: thoracic lesions and osteomyelitis
A. suis
Mastitis in pigs due to suckling trauma
Corynebacterium
diverse genus, small pleomorphic gram positives
look like chinese letters on stain
pyogenic
common commensals
C. renale group
C. renale, C. pilosum, C. cystitidis- all cause cystitis and pyelonephritis in cattle
C. renale group
C. renale, C. pilosum, C. cystitidis- all cause cystitis and pyelonephritis in cattle
Diphtheria group
C. diphtheria, C. ulcerans, C. pseudotuberculosis
cause various diseases of cats, cattle horses, small ruminants and humans