The key difference between actinomycosis and actinobacillosis is that actinomycosis is an infectious disease caused by gram-positive filamentous Actinomyces spp. In contrast, actinobacillosis is an infectious disease caused by gram-negative, rod-shaped Actinobacillus spp.
Actinomycosis and actinobacillosis are two infectious diseases caused by bacteria. Actinomyces spp are the causative bacteria of actinomycosis. They are gram-positive, filamentous, non–acid-fast and anaerobic to microaerophilic bacteria. Actinomycosis may affect the face, bones and joints, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, digestive tract, central nervous system, skin, and soft tissue structures. In contrast, Actinobacillus spp are the causative agents of actinobacillosis. Actinobacillus spp are gram-negative, nonmotile, non-spore-forming and oval to rod-shaped bacteria. Actinomycosis usually arises in hard tissues, while actinobacillosis usually arises in soft tissues.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Actinomycosis
3. What is Actinobacillosis
4. Similarities Between Actinomycosis and Actinobacillosis
5. Side by Side Comparison – Actinomycosis vs Actinobacillosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Actinomycosis?
Actinomycosis is an infrequent or rare chronic bacterial disease caused by Actinomyces spp. Actinomyces spp are filamentous gram-positive bacilli which are members of the human commensal flora of the oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. They normally colonize the human mouth and digestive and genital tracts. Actinomycosis may occur in the face, bones and joints, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, digestive tract, central nervous system, skin, and soft tissue structures. Actinomyces israelii is the most prevalent species isolated in most human infections.
Figure 01: Actinomycosis
Moreover, actinomycosis is a common disease in adult cattle. It spreads into the hard bone of the jaw and causes the swelling of the maxilla and mandible. Apart from cattle, actinomycosis occurs in horses, sheep, swine, dogs and deer.
What is Actinobacillosis?
Actinobacillosis is a common bacterial disease primarily seen in adult cattle. Actinobacillosis may occur in sheep and horses as well. It is caused by Actinobacillus spp, which are gram-negative aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria.
Figure 02: Actinobacillus spp
The most frequent clinical presentation of actinobacillosis is the granulomatous or pyogranulomatous lesion of the tongue or subcutaneous tissues in the head and neck region. Therefore, it causes a firm swelling of the tongue, dysphagia, drooling and, occasionally, protrusion of the tongue. Actinobacillosis with severe swelling of the tongue may result in its chronic protrusion. The most prominent symptom is the swelling of the tongue that protrudes from the mouth.
What are the Similarities Between Actinomycosis and Actinobacillosis?
- Actinomycosis and actinobacillosis are two types of bacterial diseases.
- Both are sporadic diseases.
- Treatment of actinobacillosis is similar to that of actinomycosis.
- Both diseases cause granulomatous lesions in skeletal muscle.
- They mainly affect cattle.
What is the Difference Between Actinomycosis and Actinobacillosis?
Actinomycosis is an infectious disease caused by the gram-positive filamentous Actinomyces spp. On the other hand, actinobacillosis is an infectious disease caused by gram-negative, rod-shaped Actinobacillus spp. So, this is the key difference between actinomycosis and actinobacillosis. Actinomycosis is commonly known as lumpy jaw while actinobacillosis is commonly known as the wooden tongue.
Moreover, another difference between actinomycosis and actinobacillosis is that the lesions of actinomycosis appear in hard tissues, while lesions of actinobacillosis appear in soft tissues.
Below infographic provides more comparisons related to the difference between actinomycosis and actinobacillosis.
Summary – Actinomycosis vs Actinobacillosis
Actinomycosis and actinobacillosis are two bacterial diseases commonly seen in cattle. Actinomycosis is caused by gram-positive filamentous bacteria: Actinomyces spp. In contrast, actinobacillosis is caused by gram-negative aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria; Actinobacillus spp. Actinomycosis is commonly known as lumpy jaw in cattle while actinobacillosis is commonly known as the wooden tongue. Actinomycosis usually arises in hard tissues, while actinobacillosis usually arises in soft tissues. Thus, this summarizes the difference between actinomycosis and actinobacillosis.
Reference:
1. Valour, Florent, et al. “Actinomycosis: Etiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management.”Infection and Drug Resistance, Dove Medical Press, 5 July 2014, Available here.
2. “Actinobacillosis.” Actinobacillosis – an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Actinomycosis (5287304877)” By Yale Rosen from USA – Actinomycosis (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Actinobacillus lignieresi” By CDC/ Dr. W.A. Clark – from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Image Library (PHIL) (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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