VI. IDENTIFICATION OF ACTINOMYCES AND ARACHIVIA
315
VII. SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS O F ACTINOMYCOSIS
The various serological tests which have been used successfully to
identify Actinomyces in culture or in tissue have been tested in attempts to
develop a serological test for actinomycosis. Georg et al. (1968) used
acetone precipitated culture media antigens and the immunodiffusion test
to detect antibodies in sera from known cases of localised and disseminated
actinomycosis, from clinically normal persons, and from patients with other
diseases. Precipitating antibodies were found in cases of systemic disease
but were not always demonstrable in cases of localised actinomycosis.
Cross-precipitating antibodies were formed in other diseases, particularly
in pulmonary tuberculosis, so that the test could not be relied on for a
presumptive diagnosis of actinomycosis.
Indirect FA tests have not been used for the diagnosis of clinical actinomycosis but Gilmour and Nisengard (1974) showed titres to A. israelii
and A. naeslundii as well as to other dental plaque bacteria in people with
localised gingivitis and periodontitis which suggests that this technique
would not be useful for the diagnosis of clinical actinomycosis. It was not
possible to distinguish between two classes of periodontal disease on the
basis of specific serum titres to either of the Actinomyces species or the other
bacteria tested.
The CIE studies of Holmberg et al. (1975b) describe the first serological
test which is apparently specific for actinomycosis. Using a standardised
preparation of antigen from A. israelii, nine known cases of actinomycosis
had antibodies to one or more antigens in the preparation. Antibodies
were not found in patients with other systemic disease or in patients with
periodontal disease. Further study of this test seems warranted.
VIII. ANTIGENS OF A C T I N O M Y C E S
Perhaps the most extensive studies of Actinomyces antigens are those of
Bowden and Hardie (1973), Bowden et al. (1976), Bowden and Fillery
(1978) and Fillery et a1 (1978). These workers have demonstrated two
groups of antigens in A. israelii, A. naeslundii, A. viscosus and A. odontolyticus. Group 1 antigens are carbohydrate polymers associated with the
cell wall. Group 2 antigens are charged, polypeptide-containing antigens
found in acid and autoclave extracts of whole cells and in culture medium
supernatants. Both groups of antigens, while similar in chemical composition from different species, contain some antigenic components which are
species or serotype specific.
Group 1 antigens are complex carbohydrates containing glycerol, but
not teichoic acids. These antigens are pronase resistant and are not mobile
315
VII. SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS O F ACTINOMYCOSIS
The various serological tests which have been used successfully to
identify Actinomyces in culture or in tissue have been tested in attempts to
develop a serological test for actinomycosis. Georg et al. (1968) used
acetone precipitated culture media antigens and the immunodiffusion test
to detect antibodies in sera from known cases of localised and disseminated
actinomycosis, from clinically normal persons, and from patients with other
diseases. Precipitating antibodies were found in cases of systemic disease
but were not always demonstrable in cases of localised actinomycosis.
Cross-precipitating antibodies were formed in other diseases, particularly
in pulmonary tuberculosis, so that the test could not be relied on for a
presumptive diagnosis of actinomycosis.
Indirect FA tests have not been used for the diagnosis of clinical actinomycosis but Gilmour and Nisengard (1974) showed titres to A. israelii
and A. naeslundii as well as to other dental plaque bacteria in people with
localised gingivitis and periodontitis which suggests that this technique
would not be useful for the diagnosis of clinical actinomycosis. It was not
possible to distinguish between two classes of periodontal disease on the
basis of specific serum titres to either of the Actinomyces species or the other
bacteria tested.
The CIE studies of Holmberg et al. (1975b) describe the first serological
test which is apparently specific for actinomycosis. Using a standardised
preparation of antigen from A. israelii, nine known cases of actinomycosis
had antibodies to one or more antigens in the preparation. Antibodies
were not found in patients with other systemic disease or in patients with
periodontal disease. Further study of this test seems warranted.
VIII. ANTIGENS OF A C T I N O M Y C E S
Perhaps the most extensive studies of Actinomyces antigens are those of
Bowden and Hardie (1973), Bowden et al. (1976), Bowden and Fillery
(1978) and Fillery et a1 (1978). These workers have demonstrated two
groups of antigens in A. israelii, A. naeslundii, A. viscosus and A. odontolyticus. Group 1 antigens are carbohydrate polymers associated with the
cell wall. Group 2 antigens are charged, polypeptide-containing antigens
found in acid and autoclave extracts of whole cells and in culture medium
supernatants. Both groups of antigens, while similar in chemical composition from different species, contain some antigenic components which are
species or serotype specific.
Group 1 antigens are complex carbohydrates containing glycerol, but
not teichoic acids. These antigens are pronase resistant and are not mobile