Determination of the Structure and Composition of the 'Sulphur Granules' of Actinomyces bovis

Abstract

SUMMARY'Sulphur granules' of Actinomyces bovis were isolated from a case of bovine actinomycosis. These were examined in ultrathin sections with the electron microscope, in stained sections with the light microscope or in wet mounts before and after chemical extraction with the light and phase microscope. In addition chemical analyses were done on the granules and on organisms grown in vitro. The combined results showed the granule is a mycelial mass of Actinornyces bovis cemented together by a polysaccharide + protein complex and containing about 50 yo calcium phosphate. With the exception of the calcium phosphate, the granule had essentially the same composition as organisms grown in vitro. It is concluded that the 'clubs' of the granule represent normal hyphae encapsulated with the same polysaccharide + protein complex, that the basic structure of the granule represents the organism itself or products formed by it and that the mycelial mass is mineralized by calcium phosphate derived from the host as a result of phosphatase activity of the host and organism.

X-Ray Diffraction and Infrared Study of the 'Sulphur Granules' of Actinomyces bovis

“…In conclusion, the chemical analyses showed that the inorganic constituents of the ' sulphur granules ' examined consisted primarily of calcium phosphate which is in agreement with the work of Pine & Overman (1963). The X-ray and infrared patterns were not sufficiently descriptive to unequivocally identify the calcium phosphate phase(s).…”

“…The Ca:P molar ratios for ashed samples 1 and 2 were 1-45 and 1.21 respectively. The Ca:P molar ratio for sample 1 compares favourably with the 1.40 ratio calculated from the data presented by Pine & Overman (1963). Their ash value was much higher (56.0 % compared to 12-0 %) apparently caused by the removal of ' Sulphur granules ' of Actinomyces bovis 447 pus and organic debris by extracting the granules with strong base (Dr L. Pine, personal communication).…”

“…Recent studies (Pine & Overman, 1963) indicated that the granule formed by Actinomyces bovis is a mycelial mass cemented together by a polysaccharide +protein complex probably excreted by the organism. The centre of the mass is calcium phosphate according to Pine & Overman (1963), but the mineral phase(s) have not been identified.…”

Electron Microscopy of Radiating Clubs in Tonsillar Crypts of Swine

“…These bodies are designated as radiating clubs [17], clublike protrusions [5], "Indian" clubs [7, 17J, club-shaped bodies [2J, radially arranged projections with rounded ends [17], acidophilic bodies or rays [15], and radiating club-shaped structures [17]. Their composite formation is described as rosettes [15], eosinophilic fringe [5], rosette of clubs [7], club colony [8,19], asteroid body [10,19], eosinophilic radiations [15], granule [I, 7,15], grains [5,16], corona of radiating club-shaped structures [17], Hoeppli corona [10], Splendore-Hoeppli material [3] or phenomenon [9,10,20].…”

“…They have been reported to be an expression of host resistance [8], an interaction between the host tissues and bacteria [2,5,15], an expression of incompatibility between the agent and the host [16], or a result of an antigen-antibody reaction [10,13,18].…”