Actinomyces

Introduction

Commensals in the mouth & GI tract of humans.

Laboratory

• Actinomyces antibody in serum
• Actinomyces identified by culture
  • may form branching, gram-positive hyphae, the same width as bacteria
  • most species grow best in anaerobic media or in media containing 6-10% CO2
• see ARUP consult

More general terms

• Actinomycetaceae

More specific terms

• Actinomyces bovis
• Actinomyces israelii
• Actinomyces meyeri
• Actinomyces naeslundii
• Actinomyces odontolyticus
• Actinomyces viscosus

Additional terms

• actinomycosis