Actinomycetoma laboratory-based diagnosis: a mini-review

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Mycetoma is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma).
• Actinomycetoma is caused by actinomycetes, with Nocardia, Streptomyces, and Actinomadura species prevalent in different endemic regions.
• Accurate identification of the causative agent is essential for effective patient treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated overview of laboratory techniques for identifying actinomycetoma-causative agents.
• To highlight advancements in diagnostic methods for species-level identification.

Main Methods:

• Review of established laboratory techniques including direct microscopy, cytology, histopathology, and serology.
• Inclusion of recent molecular techniques and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry.

Main Results:

• Various laboratory methods exist for diagnosing actinomycetoma.
• Molecular techniques and MALDI-TOF MS offer improved accuracy and speed for species identification.

Conclusions:

• Accurate species-level identification of actinomycetoma pathogens is vital for optimal patient management.
• Current diagnostic approaches integrate traditional and advanced laboratory methods for comprehensive identification.