Rare, suppurative pulmonary infection caused by Nocardiopsis dassonvillei recognized by glycolipid markers.

An opportunistic actinomycete was isolated as the only etiological agent of a severe, suppurative pulmonary infection. The strain was rapidly recognised as Nocardiopsis by the taxonomically important and immunologically active glycolipid markers (G1 and G2). Identification of the clinical isolate, from a group of actinomycetes mainly known as soil habitants, was definitely proved by chemotaxonomic studies (cell wall/sugar, phospholipid and fatty acid types) as well as by genomic data (GC content, DNA-DNA reassociation). The level of DNA-DNA homology of the clinical actinomycete, in comparison with other reference members of this genus, revealed the highest (88%) relatedness to Nocardiopsis dassonvillei. The results confirmed the value and generic specificity of glycolipid markers from Nocardiopsis, the first time used for rapid recognition of a clinical strain causing a nocardiosis-like disease.

Precipitating antibodies in office workers and hospitalized patients directed toward antigens causing hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

The frequency of precipitating antibodies to Aspergillus, thermophilic actinomycetes, and pigeon serum was studied in hospitalized patients and in employees of the state of Wisconsin. Precipitins to Aspergillus were detected in 9 per cent of the hospitalized patients and 3 per cent of the state employees. The majority of the serologically reactive hospitalized patients were diagnosed as having carcinoma with metastases, lymphoma, or leukemia. No evidence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis or invasive aspergillosis was seen in these patients. The frequency of antibodies to thermophilic actinomycetes (3 per cent) and pigeon serum (1 per cent) was similar in both groups. Women from 17 to 25 years of age and men from 52 to 66 years of age demonstrated an increased incidence of positive precipitins.