Nocardial Infections in Japan from 1992 to 2001, Including the First Report of Infection by Nocardia transvalensis

Abstract

In the period from 1992 to 2001, 303 cases of nocardioses were diagnosed in Japan, with the corresponding etiological agents isolated and characterized. Taxonomic analyses of these 303 strains showed that most nocardial infections were caused by members of the Nocardia asteroides group (72.3%). Speciation showed that 72 strains were N. asteroides, 31 strains were N. cyriacigeorgica, 2 strains were N. beijingensis, 81 strains were N. farcinica, and 33 strains were N. nova. Sixty-six strains of N. brasiliensis were the next most prevalent species of the total Nocardia isolates, followed by 14 strains of N. otitidiscaviarum. Infections by N. transvalensis (3 strains) and N. pseudobrasiliensis (1 strain) were also confirmed. The infections due to N. transvalensis, N. cyriacigeorgica, and N. beijingensis were the first reported in Japan. The most common factor that predisposed individuals to nocardial infection in Japan was therapy by immunosuppressive agents (22.4%), including SLE therapy (3.6%), followed by cancer (6.6%), diabetes (3.6%) and AIDS (2.0%). Nocardial infections occurred more commonly in the elderly, with most of the patients between the ages of 61 and 80 years of age. No significant difference regarding infectivity levels between the sexes was observed.

Nocardithiocin, a novel thiopeptide antibiotic, produced by pathogenic Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis IFM 0757

“…We have collected many pathogenic actinomycetes from clinical materials, which mainly belong to the genus of Nocardia and may cause human infections called nocardiosis. 2,3 They have produced several biologically active compounds such as antitumor and immunosuppressive ones. 4,5 During our ongoing research for new metabolites from a Nocardia strain (IFM 0757 strain) obtained from a patient at the Health Center, University of Texas, we isolated a new cyclic thiopeptide antibiotic with potent antibacterial activity against rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, called nocardithiocin (Figure 1), which was classified as a 'series d' group peptide antibiotic based on the definition by Bagley et al 6 Cyclic thiopeptides are known as activators of thiostrepton-induced protein A, which is a member of the mercury resistance regulator family, and are active against Gram-positive bacteria.…”

“…4,5 During our ongoing research for new metabolites from a Nocardia strain (IFM 0757 strain) obtained from a patient at the Health Center, University of Texas, we isolated a new cyclic thiopeptide antibiotic with potent antibacterial activity against rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, called nocardithiocin (Figure 1), which was classified as a 'series d' group peptide antibiotic based on the definition by Bagley et al 6 Cyclic thiopeptides are known as activators of thiostrepton-induced protein A, which is a member of the mercury resistance regulator family, and are active against Gram-positive bacteria. 3,7 In this paper, we describe the fermentation, isolation, structure elucidation and antimicrobial activities of the antibiotic.…”

Transvalencin Z, a New Antimicrobial Compound with Salicylic Acid Residue from Nocardia transvalensis IFM 10065

“…The infections that are caused by Nocardia are considered rare, but infectious cases have been increasingly reported, especially with the increase of immunocompromised patients [1,2]. During our screening program of bioactive compounds from pathogenic actinomycetes, we found that most of the culture broth of Nocardia clinical isolates produce anti-tumor compounds that are extractable using hydrophobic solvents such as ethyl ether or n-hexane [3,4].…”

Nocardia transvalensis/wallacei hindfoot actinomycetoma

“…Pijper et al reported the first case of N. transvalensis infection in 1927 as a pathogen of foot mycetoma in a South African patient. It has since been reported in a range of other infections in Australia, Africa, North America, Europe and Thailand [8,14] with a few reported in Japan [15] and Saudi Arabia [16] .…”