STREPTOMYCES SOMALIENSIS AS AN ETIOLOGIC AGENT OF ACTINOMYCETOMA IN LARA STATE, VENEZUELA - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC, CLINICAL, MICROBIOLOGICAL, MOLECULAR AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF 5 CASES

This paper reviews literature concerning actinomycetoma caused by Stre ptomyces somaliensis in the Americas. The epidemiological, clinical, m icrobiological and histological results based on five actinomycetoma c ases due to S. somaliensis in Lara stare, Venezuela, are included. The geographical, climatic, and ecological characteristics observed in so me Lara state areas where five patients lived resemble regions of the world where actinomycetoma cases caused by S. somaliensis have been pr eviously reported. The authors report the results obtained from morpho logical, physiological, biochemical, chemotaxonomical, molecular and a ntibiotic resistance studies on two S. somaliensis strains isolated fr om two of the five cases. The results from the ultrastructure studies of S. somaliensis grains obtained from one of the cases studied are sh own as well. The presence of S. somaliensis grains having pleomorphic cellular structures, as well as cells similar to L-forms, cell wall de fective, are also reported.