Bacteria Genomes - NOCARDIA FARCINICA

The first aerobic actinomycete was discovered by Nocard in 1889 and named by Trevisan as Nocardia farcinica. The Nocardia species are mainly found in soil decaying organic matter, and water and are common laboratory contaminants. These organisms enter the body through traumatic wounds and start colonisation leading to localised chronic infection.

Nocardia species are Gram-positive bacteria that grow in soils as well as animal tissues. They are slow growing, aerobic, gram-positive, acid-fast to partially acid-fast, glabrous, heaped and folded, and white, pink, red, orange, or tan in colour. Filaments are branched, fragmenting into rod and coccoid forms. Aerial filaments aer usually present.

Nocardia farcinica causes nocardiosis which is an acute, subacute, or chronic infectious disease occurring in cutaneous, pulmonary, and disseminated forms. Primary cutaneous nocardiosis presents as cutaneous infection (cellulitis or abscess), lymphocutaneous infection (sporotrichoid), or subcutaneous infection (actinomycetoma). Pulmonary infection presents as an acute, subacute, or chronic pneumonitis, usually in immunocompromised hosts. Disseminated nocardiosis may involve any organ; lesions in the brain or meninges are most frequent. Since treatment for nocardiosis heavily relies on chemotherapy, their intrinsic multiple drug resistance is a serious problem.

Some species of Nocardia are known to produce antibiotics and aromatic compound-degrading or converting enzymes. At least 12 species of the genus Nocardia have been identified.

Nocardia farcinica is a significant cause of mastitis in goats in Sudan.

References:

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101:14925-14930(2004).
Jnl SA Vet. Assoc. Vol.75(3) 2004: 147-149
http://nocardia.nih.go.jp/
http://www.doctorfungus.org/thefungi/nocardia.htm
http://www.emedicine.com/med/byname/nocardiosis.htm