Abstract

ROJAS, Olga Carolina et al. First report of a natural infection by Nocardia cyriacigeorgica in BALB/c mice. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2008, vol.28, n.1, pp.38-42. ISSN 1315-2556.

Bacteria belonging to the Nocardia genus are aerobic actinomycetae whose habitat is the ground and decomposing organic material. Natural infection by species belonging to this genus has been reported in humans and animals; nevertheless, natural infection in mice has not been described until now. This study demonstrates for the first time the isolation of a recently described species, Nocardia cyriacigeorgica, rom the lungs of Balb/c mice. The microbiological study of the lung samples reported the presence of branched Gram positive filaments with a cocobacillar shape. PCR studies demonstrated that the species isolated was N. cyriacigeorgica. This study demonstrates that N. cyriacigeorgica is potentially pathogenic for Balb/c mice.

Keywords : Nocardia cyriacigeorgica; Balb/c mice; lung; nocardiosis; natural infection.