Abstract

UZCATEGUI-NEGRON, Mayela et al. Classification and identification of Actinomyces species: A comparative phenotype study. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2009, vol.29, n.2, pp.91-97. ISSN 1315-2556.

Physiologic and biochemical tests constitute two of the main methodologies, mainly used in microbiology laboratories, for the identification and differentiation of actinomyces. The purpose of this work was to compare and evaluate the phenotypic methods used routinely for the identification of these microorganisms. The study included seventy three actinomyces strains from three microbiology laboratories in Venezuela. The physiologic and biochemical behavior of the strains was evaluated through decomposition tests using different substrates. The results obtained showed differences in the preliminary identification of the strains done in the various laboratories, leading occasionally to a new identification arisen from the use of these substrates. It was seen that with the methods used it was possible to taxonomically reclassify almost all the strains studied, suggesting that it is necessary to standardize the methods for the identification of actinomyces.

Keywords : phenotype tests; actinomyces; Nocardia; identification.

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