Phenotypic characteristics and lipopolysaccharides of human and animal isolates of Fusobacterium necrophorum

Brown, Robert L.; Lough, H; Poxton, Ian R.

doi:10.1099/00222615-46-10-873

Cited by 16 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Some describe F. necrophorum subsp. funduliforme as lipase-negative [1,38,44], whereas others describe it as weakly lipase-positive [7,52]. F. necrophorum subsp.…”

Section: Microbiology and Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Necrobacillosis, with Emphasis on Lemierre's Syndrome

Kristensen

Prag

2000

Clinical Infectious Diseases

279

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Lemierre's syndrome is the classical presentation of human necrobacillosis. It is characterized by a primary infection in the head in a young, previously healthy person who subsequently develops persistent high fever and disseminated metastatic abscesses, frequently including a septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. The main pathogen is Fusobacterium necrophorum, an obligate anaerobic, pleomorphic, gram-negative rod. Clinical microbiologists have a key role in alerting clinicians and advising proper antibiotic treatment when the characteristic microscopic morphology of the pleomorphic F. necrophorum is seen in Gram stains from positive anaerobic cultures of blood and pus. Early diagnosis and prolonged appropriate antibiotic treatment with good anaerobic coverage are crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. F. necrophorum also causes human necrobacillosis with foci caudal to the head, mainly in elderly patients with high mortality related to age and predisposing diseases, such as cancers of the primary focus.

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“…Some describe F. necrophorum subsp. funduliforme as lipase-negative [1,38,44], whereas others describe it as weakly lipase-positive [7,52]. F. necrophorum subsp.…”

Section: Microbiology and Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Necrobacillosis, with Emphasis on Lemierre's Syndrome

Kristensen

Prag

2000

Clinical Infectious Diseases

279

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“…Previous studies have shown that LPS from human strains resembles that of animal subsp. funduliforme in composition (being rich in amino sugars) (Brown et al, 1997). Studies to determine the biological activity of LPS have revealed that it is less toxic to rabbits (Hofstad & Kristoffersen, 1971).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Fusobacterium necrophorum strains have a leukotoxin gene and exhibit leukotoxic activity

Tadepalli

Stewart

Nagaraja

et al. 2008

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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Fusobacterium necrophorum, a Gram-negative anaerobe, causes a variety of necrotic infections in humans and animals. There are two subspecies: subsp. necrophorum and subsp. funduliforme. In cattle, subsp. necrophorum is more prevalent and production of leukotoxin is a major virulence factor. The leukotoxin operon (lktBAC) consists of three genes, lktB, lktA and lktC, of which lktA is the structural toxin gene. The subspecies identity of human F. necrophorum is less certain and it is not known whether human strains possess the leukotoxin gene or leukotoxin activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the subspecies status of four human clinical strains of F. necrophorum and determine whether they have the leukotoxin gene or leukotoxin activity. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics suggested that the four strains belonged to subsp. funduliforme, which was confirmed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Analysis of the four strains by PCR revealed the presence of the leukotoxin operon. Partial DNA sequencing identified one human strain with full-length lktA, whereas the others exhibited considerable heterogeneity in size. All strains had a leukotoxin operon promoter-containing intergenic region similar to that of bovine subsp. funduliforme strains, which was confirmed by DNA sequencing and Southern blotting. Despite variations in the lktA gene, all strains secreted leukotoxin as demonstrated by Western blotting. Flow cytometry assays revealed that the leukotoxin was toxic to human white blood cells. In conclusion, the human strains examined contained a leukotoxin gene whose gene product was biologically active. The importance of leukotoxin as a virulence factor in human fusobacterial infections needs further evaluation.

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“…necrophorum, while the human isolates were distinct and could not be characterized simply as animal "biotype B isolates." Brown et al (70) examined phenotypic characteristics and lipopolysaccharides of human and animal strains and found that human isolates were predominantly coccobacillary, whereas animal isolates were predominantly rod shaped. In addition there were differences in the lipopolysaccharides of the strains from the two sources.…”

Section: Bacteriologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Infection withFusobacterium necrophorum(Necrobacillosis), with a Focus on Lemierre's Syndrome

2007

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SUMMARYSummary:Human infection withFusobacterium necrophorumusually involvesF. necrophorumsubsp.funduliformerather thanF. necrophorumsubsp.necrophorum, which is a common pathogen in animals. Lemierre's syndrome, or postanginal sepsis, is the most common life-threatening manifestation. Tonsillitis is followed by septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and then a septicemia with septic emboli in lungs and other sites. Recent evidence suggests thatF. necrophorumcan be limited to the throat and cause persistent or recurrent tonsillitis.F. necrophorumis unique among non-spore-forming anaerobes, first for its virulence and association with Lemierre's syndrome as a monomicrobial infection and second because it seems probable that it is an exogenously acquired infection. The source of infection is unclear; suggestions include acquisition from animals or human-to-human transmission. Approximately 10% of published cases are associated with infectious mononucleosis, which may facilitate invasion. Recent work suggests that underlying thrombophilia may predispose to internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis. Lemierre's syndrome was relatively common in the preantibiotic era but seemed to virtually disappear with widespread use of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infection. In the last 15 years there has been a rise in incidence, possibly related to restriction in antibiotic use for sore throat.

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Phenotypic characteristics and lipopolysaccharides of human and animal isolates of Fusobacterium necrophorum

Cited by 16 publications

References 14 publications

Human Necrobacillosis, with Emphasis on Lemierre's Syndrome

Human Necrobacillosis, with Emphasis on Lemierre's Syndrome

Human Fusobacterium necrophorum strains have a leukotoxin gene and exhibit leukotoxic activity

Human Infection withFusobacterium necrophorum(Necrobacillosis), with a Focus on Lemierre's Syndrome

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