PARASITES OF ACTINOMYCOSIS 661 



caused by a Discomyces which gave white cultures and did not liquefy gelatin (Disco- 

 myces alba). In a case recorded by Sabrazes and Riviere the parasite was yellow 

 on cultivation and did not liquefy gelatin (Discomyces flava). [D. alba and D. flava 

 are probably the same species as D. asterotdes.] 



Levy isolated an orange-coloured Discomyces from a case of human actinomycosis. 

 The parasite liquefied gelatin but did not appear to be pathogenic " to the lower 

 animals. This is possibly the polychrome Discomyces of Vallee (vide infra). 



Lignieres and Spitz have described an actinomycotic condition (actino-bacillosis) 

 due to a Discomyces which is [said to be] readily distinguishable from the classical 

 Discomyces bovis ; it grows in artificial culture as a short bacillus and only rarely 

 exhibits a filamentous appearance (on potato). This parasite, Discomyces spitzi, 

 is pathogenic for cattle, sheep, rabbits and guinea-pigs. According to J. H. Wright, 

 however, it is identical with Discomyces bovis. [Brumpt describes the organism as 

 a bacillus (Actinobacillus lignieresi Brumpt). " The actinobacillus of Lignieres and 

 the tubercle bacillus (Schlerothrix kochi of Metchnikoff) are aberrant micro-organisms 

 which many observers consider as fungi related to the Discomyces " (Brumpt).] 



II. DISCOMYCES ISRAELI. 



L r Syn. Streptothrix israeli Kruse. Streptothrix spitzi Lignieres. 

 Discomyces bovis Brumpt. 



[Discomyces israeli closely resembles in its appearance in tissues and cultures 

 Discomyces bovis, and by some observers the two parasites are regarded as the 

 same species. The main difference between them would seem to be that 

 cultures of Discomyces boris are not inoculable into animals while Discomyces 

 israeli readily gives rise to typical lesions of actinomycosis on inoculation 

 into animals. Discomyces israeli moreover grows better under anaerobic 

 conditions than when cultivated in presence of a free supply of air. 



[Discomyces israeli has been found in cattle in the Argentine by Lignieres and 

 Spitz, in both man and cattle by J. H. Wright in the United States, and in France 

 it would appear that Discomyces israeli is a more common cause of actinomycosis in 

 man than Discomyces bovis.] 



III. DISCOMYCES THIBIERGI (Ravaut and Pinoy). 



[This parasite was found by Ravaut and Pinoy in a patient suffering from 

 disseminated nodules beneath the skin and in the muscles. 



[In the pus the parasite sometimes had the form of isolated bacilli, at other times 

 it formed very small white grains quite different from the yellow grains seen with 

 other parasites of actinomycosis. In the tissues it forms clubs. 



[Discomyces thibiergi grows easily both under aerobic and under anaerobic con- 

 ditions. It appears to be devoid of pathogenic properties in the rabbit, guinea-pig, 

 white rat and monkey (Macacus).] 



IV. DISCOMYCES LIQUEFACIENS. 



[Discomyces liquefaciens was isolated from a clinical case of actinomycosis. It 

 does not form clubs in the tissues, is an obligatory aerobe, grows well on various 

 media and is not pathogenic to laboratory animals (Brumpt).] 



V. DISCOMYCES GARTENI. 



[Discomyces garteni, isolated from a clinical case of actinomycosis, is an aerobic 

 organism, and is pathogenic to certain animals. It forms no clubs (Brumpt).] 



