Isolation and Identification of Nocardia spp. Using Phenotypic Methods from Soil Samples of North Khorasan Province

• Main Authors: Fatemeh Andalibi, Mehdi Fatahi-Bafghi, Parvin Heidarieh, Masoumeh Rasouli-Nasab, Shadi Habibnia, MohammadReza Pourmand, SeyyedSaeed Eshraghi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2015-11-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Bacteriology
• Subjects: Nocardia, soil Paraffin baiting, Phenotypic tests, Khorasan
• Online Access: http://jmb.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jmb/article/view/59

<p><strong><em>Introduction</em></strong><strong>: </strong><em>N</em><em>o</em><em>c</em><em>a</em><em>rdia </em>is saprophytic soil bacterium of the actinomycetes families. <em>Nocardia </em>has high diversity of species and due to species diversity of <em>Nocardia</em>, phenotypic tests are essential for early identification of <em>Nocardia </em>species.</p><p><strong><em>M</em></strong><strong><em>e</em></strong><strong><em>thods</em></strong><strong>: </strong>155 soil samples from different regions of North Khorasan province in Iran were collected, including: urban and rural areas. Isolation of <em>Nocardia </em>was performed by paraffin baiting Technique. Identification of <em>Nocardia </em>species was performed by phenotypic methods that are including:  hydrolysis of the amino acids, acid production of carbohydrates and, growth at 35° C and 45°C.</p><p><strong><em>Results</em></strong><strong>: </strong>11 <em>Nocardia </em>species (7%) were identified . These bacteria were related to the gardens, the sands soils, and soil of town square. No growth was observed at 45°C. As the result, our isolates were identified as <em>Nocardia asteroides </em>complex.</p><p><strong><em>Conclusion</em></strong><strong>: </strong>Isolation and identification of <em>Nocardia </em>spp. from soil of different regions in North Khorasan  province  in  Iran  can  help  to  enhance  our understanding  of epidemiological  and ecological of the pathogenic <em>Nocardia </em>species.</p>