Botryomycosis — a series of six integumentary or visceral cases from India

Abstract

Botryomycosis is characterized by a chronic suppurative lesion with distinctive fungus-like grains that resemble the sulphur granules of actinomycosis. Both integumentary and visceral forms of the disease are recognized. The visceral involvement occurs predominantly in the lungs. Botryomycosis may develop in apparently healthy individuals as well as the immunologically compromised. Six cases of botryomycosis, affecting various sites in the bodies of immunocompetent individuals, are described. In each of the six cases, the initial clinical diagnosis was of an abscess or malignancy.

Pulmonary actinomycosis in two chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)

“…These staining properties represent the fundamental criteria for the differential diagnosis of actinomycosis from nocardiosis and botryomycosis in which bacterial clusters may simulate actinomycosis through the formation of analogous sulphur granules within the pyogranulomatous lesions. Unlike the bacteria in actinomycotic granules, the microorganisms composing nocardial granules are typically positive to Fite's staining method for acid fast bacteria (de Montpreville et al 1999;Pritt et al 2006), whilst in botryomycosis, sulphur granules are mostly composed of non-filamentous bacteria that result negative to both PAS stain and Fite's method (Vasishta et al 2004).…”

Digital nodules and pustules in a patient with Crohn disease

“…Clinically, crusts, pustules, verrucous lesions, abscesses, sinus tracts and ulcerations are seen [2]. In most cases manifestation on the skin is reported; in rare cases there can be visceral involvement [3,4,5,6]. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are among the most common triggers of botryomycosis, but Escherichia coli, Serratia, Proteus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, streptococci, micrococci and anaerobes have been identifi ed in association with botryomycosis [7].…”

Septic pericardial effusion associated with pulmonary and pericardial botryomycosis in a dog

“…The term botryomycosis (BM) describes a chronic granulomatous disease caused by non‐branching bacteria characterised on histopathology by the presence of eosinophilic granules containing the causative microorganism (Kathir and Dennis 2001). BM has been described affecting many other organs or systems both in human medicine and in veterinary medicine (Habermann and Williams 1956, Bostrom and others 1969, Bersoff‐Matcha and others 1998, Vasishta and others 2004). In dogs, two cases, one cutaneous (Walton and others 1982) and one intra‐abdominal (Share and Utroska 2002), have been reported.…”