NOCARDIA, NOCARDIOSIS AND MYCETOMA

The recent emergence of invasive infections due to Nocardia spp., incl uding nosocomial outbreak, is now evident. Newer molecular diagnostic and typing methods are developed. Although sulfonamide-based therapy i s generally effective, optimal treatment may be guided by antimicrobia l susceptibility testing of isolates. The improved classification of n ocardiae and other related genera such as actinomadurae, using the 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, provide a sound basis for improved diagnost ic methods for the identification of members of clinically significant species. The commonest cause of eumycetoma in Sudan is Madurella myce tomatis, and Streptomyces somaliensis and Actinomadura madurae for act inomycetoma. The humoral immunity response in actinomycetoma patients and in experimental mice was measured and significant titre of anti-P2 4 antibody was demonstrated.