Nocardia

Nocardia /No·car·dia/ (no-kahr´de-ah) a genus of bacteria (family Nocardiaceae), including N. asteroi´des, which produces a tuberculosis-like infection in humans, N. farci´nica (probably identical with N. asteroi´des ), which produces a tuberculosis-like infection in cattle and causes actinomycotic mycetoma, and N. brasilien´sis, which causes nocardiosis and actinomycotic mycetoma in humans.

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No·car·di·a (n-kärd-)

n.

A genus of aerobic, gram-positive, primarily saprophytic actinomycetes that are transitional between bacteria and fungi and that form filaments that fragment to single nonmotile microorganisms, including some species that may be pathogenic to humans and other animals.

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Nocardia

a genus of gram-positive, modified acid-fast bacteria, with branching filaments that break into cocci or bacilli, in the family Nocardiaceae. Most are soil saprophytes which uncommonly may cause pyogranulomatous infections in a number of species.

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Nocardia asteroides, Nocardia brasiliensis

may cause mastitis in cattle, pneumonia, mastitis and lymphadenitis in pigs, sheep and goats, and cutaneous or systemic nocardiosis of dogs and cats.

Nocardia farcinica

there is some uncertainty about the taxonomic status of this species; causes bovine farcy.

Nocardia otitidiscaviarum

causes dermatitis on guinea pig ears.