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'Fusobacterium' is a genus of filamentous, anaerobic, Gram-negative bacteria, similar to ''Bacteroides''.^[1]
''Fusobacterium'' contribute to several human diseases, including periodontal diseases, Lemierre's syndrome, and tropical skin ulcers. Although older resources have stated that ''Fusobacterium'' is a common occurrence in the human oropharynx, the current consensus is that ''Fusobacterium'' should always be treated as a pathogen.^[2]

Contents

Notable Species

F. Necrophorum

F. Nucleatum

F. Polymorphum

References

External links

Notable Species

F. Necrophorum

'Fusobacterium necrophorum' is the species of Fusobacterium that is responsible for Lemierre's syndrome, and appears to be responsible for 10% of all acute sore throats and 21% of all recurring sore throats^[3][4], with the remainder being caused by Group A streptococci or viruses.
Other complications from ''F. necrophorum'' include meningitis, complicated by thrombosis of the cerebral veins^[5], and infection of the urogenital and the gastrointestinal tracts^[6].
''F. necrophorum'' infection usually responds to treatment with penicillin or metronidazole, but penicillin treatment for persistent pharyngitis appears anecdotally to have a higher relapse rate, although the reasons for that are unclear. This bacterium is also considered the cause of the foot disease thrush in horses.
Although this infection is rare, researchers agree that this this diagnosis should be considered in a septicaemic patient with thrombosis in an unusual site, and underlying malignancy should be excluded in cases of confirmed ''F. necrophorum'' occurring at sites caudal to the head^[7].

F. Nucleatum

'Fusobacterium Nucleatum' is an oral bacterium, indigenous to the human oral cavity, that plays a role in periodontal disease. This organism is commonly recovered from different monomicrobial and mixed infections in humans and animals. It is a key component of periodontal plaque due to its abundance and its ability to coaggregate with other species in the oral cavity.^[8].

F. Polymorphum

'Fusobacterium Polymorphum' is a bacterium that has been isolated from the gingival crevice in humans, and has been implicated in the immunopathology of periodontal disease. It has also been isolated in guinea pigs in research studies.^[9].

References

1. Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Madigan M; Martinko J (editors)., , , Prentice Hall, 2005, ISBN 0-13-144329-1
2. Real-time PCR investigation into the importance of ''Fusobacterium necrophorum'' as a cause of acute pharyngitis in general practice, Aliyu SH, Marriott RK, Curran MD, ''et al.'', , , J Med Microbiol, 2004
3. Prevalence of ''Fusobacterium necrophorum'' and other upper respiratory tract pathogens isolated from throat swabs, Batty A, Wren MW., , , Br J Biomed Sci, 2005
4. ''Fusobacterium necrophorum'' as the cause of recurrent sore throat: comparison of isolates from persistent sore throat syndrome and Lemierre's disease, Batty A, Wren MW, Gal M., , , J Infect, 2005
5. ''Fusobacterium necrophorum'' meningitis associated with cerebral vessel thrombosis., Larsen PD, Chartrand SA, Adickes M., , , Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1997
6. Human necrobacillosis, with emphasis on Lemierre's syndrome., Hagelskjaer Kristensen L, Prag J., , , Clin Infect Dis, 2000
7. ''Fusobacterium necrophorum'' infection associated with portal vein thrombosis., Redford ML, Ellis R, Rees CJ., , , J Med Microbiol, 2005
8. Genome sequence and analysis of the oral bacterium ''Fusobacterium nucleatum'' strain ATCC 25586., Kapatral V, et al., , , J Bacteriol, 2002
9. Anticomplementary activity of ''Fusobacterium polymorphum'' in normal and C4-deficient sources of guinea pig complement., Hawley CE, Falker Jr. WA., , , Infect Immun, 1977

External links

★ ''Anaerobic Gram-Negative Bacilli'' chapter in Baron's ''Medical Microbiology'' (online at the NCBI bookshelf).