Actinomycetoma laboratory-based diagnosis: a mini-review. (15th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Siddig, Emmanuel Edwar; van de Sande, Wendy W J; Fahal, Ahmed Hassan
• Is Part Of: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Volume 115:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 355
• Page End: 363
• Publication Date: 2021-01-15
• Subjects: actinomycetoma -- laboratory diagnosis -- microbiology -- molecular techniques; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-9203

Abstract

Abstract: Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease that is caused either by fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma). The latter is caused by various actinomycetes of the genera Nocardia, Streptomyces and Actinomadura . They have different geographical distributions within mycetoma-endemic regions. In parts of Latin America, Nocardia species are more often encountered while in Africa, Streptomyces species dominate. For instituting a proper patient treatment plan, accurate identification of the causative organism is vital. For actinomycetoma, different laboratory-based techniques have been developed during recent decades. These include direct microscopy, cytology, histopathology and serology. More recently, different molecular techniques and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry have been included as diagnostic methods for actinomycetoma. In this review, an update on the laboratory techniques currently in use for the identification of actinomycetoma-causative agents to the species level is presented.