Genus Actinomyces
Species A.israelii, A.naeslundii, A.viscosis
Genus Nocardia
Species N.asteroides, N.brasiliensis
Genus Streptomyces
Species S.griseus
Actinomyces are true bacteria. They form chains of
bacilli or long branching filaments (0.5-1 μm in width)
with complex structures, thus, they resemble the hyphae
of fungi. The name of the order contains the root word
for fungus (“myco-”). They are gram-positive and weak
acid fast. Each cell of actinomyces contains the same
structures as other groups of prokaryotes ( G+ cell wall,
cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm, nucleoid,
mesosomes, ribosomes, inclusions). They may produce
spores.
They are facultative anaerobes, but grow best under
anaerobic or microaerophilic conditions with addition of
5-10% carbon dioxide. Actinomyces spp. are
commensals of the mouth and have narrow temperature
range of around 35-37°C. They reproduce by
fragmentation of hyphae or formation of spores.
Different types of colonies on solid media and
morphology of actinomyces
Streptomyces
(produce several antibiotics, e.g. streptomycin – the first
aminoglycoside)
Actinomyces spp. are responsible
for the disease known as actinomycosis
Actinomycosis is chronic disease characterized by
miltiple abscesses and granulomata, tissue destruction,
extensive fibrosis and formation of sinuses. Within
diseased tissues the actinomyces form large masses of
mycelia embedded in the amorphous protein-
polysaccharide matrix. The mycelial masses can be
visible to the naked eye, as they often light yellow in
color, thy are called sulphur granules. In older lesions
sulphur granules are very hard because of the deposition
of calcium phosphate in the matrix. The initial lesion can
induce the soft tissue infections of face and neck, or
chest, or abdomen. The disease is not communicable.
sulphur granule
by Gram method
Actinomycosis of face occurs usually after
tooth extraction or other dental procedures.
Spirochetes
Taxonomy
Order Spirochaetales
Family Spirochaetaceae
Genus Treponema
Species T.pallidum causes syphilis
T.pertenue causes jars
T.carateum causes pinta
T. microdenticum & T.macrodenticum are
nonpathogenic species found in oral cavity
Spirochetes
Taxonomy
Family Spirochaetaceae
Genus Borrelia
Species B.recurrentis causes relapsing fever
B.burgdorferi causes Lyme disease
Family Leptospiraceae
Genus Leptospira
Species L.interrogans causes leptospirosis
The spirochetes are long, slender, helically coiled, motile
gram-negative bacteria.
Treponema pallidum has 8-12 delicate regular coils, about
0,2 μm in width and 5-15 μm in lenth