Adherence of Fusobacterium necrophorum subspecies necrophorum to different animal cells
Okada, Y.; Kanoe, M.; Yaguchi, Y.; Watanabe, T.; Ohmi, H.; Okamoto, K.
Microbios 99(393): 95-104
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-2633 PMID: 10510867 Document Number: 508763
The adherence of F. necrophorum subsp. necrophorum to the surfaces of cheek cells from mice, rabbits, cats, dogs, goats, miniature pigs and humans was studied. The bacterium had a strong affinity for murine and rabbit cheek cells, a moderate affinity for goat cells and a weak affinity for canine, feline, human and porcine cells. Treatment of the bacterial cells with haemagglutinin antiserum before the binding assay reduced the degree of attachment to murine and rabbit cells. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the adherent fusobacteria often penetrated into murine and rabbit cell membranes. It is suggested that bacterial attachment contributes to the establishment of the infection in mice and rabbits and that the weak binding ability results in a low incidence of the bacterium in canine, feline and porcine lesions.