312
M. A. GERENCSER
fragments of the kidney were sent to us by Dr D. J. Guidry from a case
where stained sections of kidney and brain showed filamentous bacteria.
Smears made from the homogenised tissue showed filaments which stained
brightly with A . israelii conjugates but not with conjugates for other
species.
Blank and Georg (1968) used FA for rapid and specific identification of
A . israelii and A . naeslundii in smears of homogenised granules, pustular
material and tissue suspensions of human tonsils. They found that 30 of
116 specimens contained A . israelii when observed directly but only 12
of these yielded a positive culture. They also found that FA was useful
in monitoring the presence of Actinomyces in mixed primary cultures from
clinical material. Hotchi and Schwarz (1972) demonstrated A . israelii and
A . naeslundii in formalin-fixed tonsillar tissue using FA. A . naeslundii was
found in nine patients, A . israelii in 26 patients and both species in eight
patients when one or more sections from tonsils containing granules were
examined.
Georg et al. (1972) demonstrated the presence of A . viscosus in hepatic
tissue removed from a dog at necropsy using FA staining. Staining of the
tissue with other Actinomyces conjugates was negative and A . viscosus was
isolated from the animal. Altman and Small (1973) diagnosed a case of
actinomycosis in a non-human primate by direct FA staining of formalinfixed tissue. Filaments in the tissue stained with F I T C conjugates for A .
israelii but not with those for A . bovis and A . viscosus. I n this case, cultures
were not available so only the FA staining made a definitive diagnosis
possible.
The indirect staining technique has also been used successfully on
clinical material. Schaal and Pulverer (1973) used FA on 528 cases of
suspected actinomycosis. They found A . israelii in 452 cases, Arachnia
propionica in 14 cases, A . naeslundii in 11 cases and both A . israelii and A .
naeslundii in four cases.
C. Identification in dental plaque
Using direct FA staining of smears of homogenised plaque or calculus
Slack et al. (1971) and Collins et al. (1973) showed that Actinomyces were
a consistent part of the microbial flora and that more than one species was
present in all the specimens studied. In studies of 75 plaque or calculus
specimens A . israelii was found in 72, A . naeslundii in 65, A . odontolyticus
in 46, A . viscosus in 64, and Arachnia propionica in 50 (Slack et al., 1971 ;
Collins et al., 1973; Gerencser and Slack, unpublished data). All specimens
had at least two species and a number of them contained all five. A . israelii
was the most frequent species and A . odmtolyticus the least frequent. In
M. A. GERENCSER
fragments of the kidney were sent to us by Dr D. J. Guidry from a case
where stained sections of kidney and brain showed filamentous bacteria.
Smears made from the homogenised tissue showed filaments which stained
brightly with A . israelii conjugates but not with conjugates for other
species.
Blank and Georg (1968) used FA for rapid and specific identification of
A . israelii and A . naeslundii in smears of homogenised granules, pustular
material and tissue suspensions of human tonsils. They found that 30 of
116 specimens contained A . israelii when observed directly but only 12
of these yielded a positive culture. They also found that FA was useful
in monitoring the presence of Actinomyces in mixed primary cultures from
clinical material. Hotchi and Schwarz (1972) demonstrated A . israelii and
A . naeslundii in formalin-fixed tonsillar tissue using FA. A . naeslundii was
found in nine patients, A . israelii in 26 patients and both species in eight
patients when one or more sections from tonsils containing granules were
examined.
Georg et al. (1972) demonstrated the presence of A . viscosus in hepatic
tissue removed from a dog at necropsy using FA staining. Staining of the
tissue with other Actinomyces conjugates was negative and A . viscosus was
isolated from the animal. Altman and Small (1973) diagnosed a case of
actinomycosis in a non-human primate by direct FA staining of formalinfixed tissue. Filaments in the tissue stained with F I T C conjugates for A .
israelii but not with those for A . bovis and A . viscosus. I n this case, cultures
were not available so only the FA staining made a definitive diagnosis
possible.
The indirect staining technique has also been used successfully on
clinical material. Schaal and Pulverer (1973) used FA on 528 cases of
suspected actinomycosis. They found A . israelii in 452 cases, Arachnia
propionica in 14 cases, A . naeslundii in 11 cases and both A . israelii and A .
naeslundii in four cases.
C. Identification in dental plaque
Using direct FA staining of smears of homogenised plaque or calculus
Slack et al. (1971) and Collins et al. (1973) showed that Actinomyces were
a consistent part of the microbial flora and that more than one species was
present in all the specimens studied. In studies of 75 plaque or calculus
specimens A . israelii was found in 72, A . naeslundii in 65, A . odontolyticus
in 46, A . viscosus in 64, and Arachnia propionica in 50 (Slack et al., 1971 ;
Collins et al., 1973; Gerencser and Slack, unpublished data). All specimens
had at least two species and a number of them contained all five. A . israelii
was the most frequent species and A . odmtolyticus the least frequent. In