Increasing Fusobacterium infections with Fusobacterium varium, an emerging pathogen

Abstract

Infections caused by Fusobacterium species are rare; however serious infections with complications or mortality may occur occasionally. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the clinical features of patients with Fusobacterium infections and the differences between infections caused by the species F. necrophorum, F. nucleatum, and F. varium. Additionally, we attempted to identify risk factors for Fusobacterium-associated mortality. This study included all patients at a large tertiary care teaching hospital in South Korea with Fusobacterium infections from January 2006 to April 2021. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for in-hospital mortality associated with F. nucleatum and F. varium infections. We identified 272 patients with Fusobacterium infections during the study period. The number of Fusobacterium cases has increased recently, with F. varium infections markedly increasing since 2016 and causing a significant proportion of infections. Patients with F. varium infections were older and had a higher proportion of nosocomial infections than the other groups. The F. nucleatum and F. varium groups showed higher in-hospital mortality than the F. necrophorum group. Through logistic regression analysis, APACHE II score and serum albumin level were considered risk factors for in-hospital mortality. APACHE II score was positively correlated with age, red cell distribution width, and serum blood urea nitrogen, and negatively correlated with serum albumin level. Infections caused by Fusobacterium species are increasing. F. varium causes a significant proportion of severe infections.

Using meta‐analysis to understand the impacts of dietary protein and fat content on the composition of fecal microbiota of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): A pilot study

“…Fusobacterium , despite its association with negative health connotations in humans (Brennan & Garrett, 2019; Lee et al, 2022), is a commensal bacteria genera in the GIT of the healthy domestic dog (Alessandri et al, 2019; Vázquez‐Baeza et al, 2016). Fusobacterium is a butyrate producer, utilizing lysine degradation pathways to produce butyrate from protein sources (Louis & Flint, 2017; Vital et al, 2014).…”

Meta-transcriptomic analysis of companion animal infectomes reveals their diversity and potential roles in animal and human disease

“…Also in accord with previous studies, our results showed that microbiome of healthy animals differs between tissue types 48,53 , but less so between different host species 48 . Some specific bacteria species/genera can be detected in both cats and dogs, and there is evidence suggesting that some of these may be zoonotic, causing diseases from diarrhea ( Clostridioides difficile 22 , Fusobacterium varium 54 ), to serious bite-wound infections ( Pasteurella spp. 55,56 , Capnocytophaga spp.…”

Unexpected finding ofFusobacterium variumabundance in cattle rumen: implications for liver abscess interventions

“…Though little has been reported of its presence in cattle, F. varium has been associated with ulcerative colitis in Japanese patients but has not been as frequently reported in North America or Europe [75, 76]. Notably, however, a recent study found a rapid increase in the proportion of Fusobacterium infections in Korean patients caused by F. varium since 2016, referring to the species as an emerging pathogen: F. varium was shown to cause more severe infections than F. nucleatum and F. necrophorum , demonstrated by high rates of in-hospital mortality (12.5%) and ICU admission (26.8%) as well as acute kidney injury (14.3%) [21]. Thus, it is possible that F. varium is also an emerging cattle pathogen, though more work is needed to justify concern.…”

“…Notably, we have observed considerable variability in the metabolic capacity of our bovine F. varium isolates, highlighting the potential for functionally-distinct bovine strains. Thus, a more thorough investigation of bovine F. varium genomes may be warranted, particularly to assess whether such mobile genetic elements are present as they could be related to the recent emergence of F. varium as a human pathogen in several Asian countries [21, 78].…”

“…Moreover, the vast majority of targeted metagenomic studies of the bovine rumen (i.e., 16S rRNA analyses) have been conducted using methods that provide only genus-level taxonomic resolution. As such, it is currently unclear whether F. varium , an emerging human pathogen [21], plays a role in bovine LA etiology or other diseases. Thus, a better understanding of the distribution and role of F. varium in the bovine rumen is necessary for the development of selective biocontrol technologies for LA prevention.…”