PubMed1975
The pathogenicity of Nocardia asteroides and other strains of different Nocardia species against chicken embryos was investigated. The strains were inoculated on the chorioallantois membrane of embryonated eggs and the resulting lesions were judged. 55 Nocardia asteroides strains and some strains of the species N. brasiliensis, N. leishmanii, N. caviae, N. (Actinomadura) madurae, N. caprae, N. rubra, N. pellegrini, N. corallina and N. polychromogenes were studied. 47 strains of the species N. asteroides were pathogenic, 2 apathogenic and 6 strains showed doubtful results. All the investigated 5 strains of the species N. brasiliensis, N. leishmanii, N. caviae and N. (Actinomadura) madurae, provoked typical lesions on the chorioallantois membrane. The other investigated strains were apathogenic. With this, described test it is possible to distinguish between pathogenic and apathogenic Nocardia strains, which is indeed important for the diagnosis of Nocardia infection.