Distribution of nocardia species in clinical samples and their routine rapid identification in the laboratory

J Clin Microbiol. 2005 Jun;43(6):2624-8. doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.6.2624-2628.2005.

Abstract

Eighty-six Nocardia strains isolated from clinical samples in Belgium were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Eighty-three (96%) strains belonged to only six Nocardia species: N. farcinica (38 [44%]), N. nova (19 [22%]), N. cyriacigeorgica (13 [15%]), N. brasiliensis (6 [6.9%]), N. abscessus (5 [5.8%]), and N. paucivorans (2 [2.3%]). A gallery of nine conventional and enzymatic tests was developed for the rapid identification of the most common species isolated during this survey. Pyrrolidonyl aminopeptidase, gamma-glutamyl aminopeptidase, alpha-mannosidase, and alpha-glucosidase were found to be highly discriminating and could be used to develop an identification scheme.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Ribosomal / analysis
  • Genes, rRNA
  • Humans
  • Nocardia / classification*
  • Nocardia / enzymology
  • Nocardia / genetics
  • Nocardia / isolation & purification*
  • Nocardia Infections / epidemiology*
  • Nocardia Infections / microbiology
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Species Specificity
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S