-250x173.jpg)
Fusobacterium nucleatum
-
General information
the following information is not yet verified
Taxonomy
Family: Fusobacteriaceae
Natural habitats
This bacterium is part of the normal flora of the mouth and pharynx, upper respiratory tract, sexual organs and gastrointestinal tract
Clinical significance
It is a key organism in maturation of pathogenic biofilms in periodontal pockets and considered an important pathogen in peri-implantitis, root and canal infection, dentoalveolar abscesses, and spreading odontogenic infections.
They have a wide range of infections, like blood, brain, chest, heart, lung, liver, appendix, joint, abdomen, genitourinary tract as well as infected human bite lesions.
-
Diseases
-
Gram stain
the following information is not yet verified
Thin Gram negative rods,
with pointed ends,
and is often found in pairs end to end.
Like Capnocytophaga and Leptotrichia buccalis (larger) ► indole negative
-
Culture characteristics
-
the following information is not yet verified
Obligate anaerobic
BBAØ:
Three colony morphotypes
1. small, 0.5-1 mm, breadcrumb like, white ► F. nucleatum ssp fusiforme
2. large, speckled, smooth, butyrous, greyish white ► F. nucleatum ssp polymorphum
3. small, smooth, greyish white ► F. nucleatum ssp nucleatum
The colony size varies from <0.5-2 mm, and they produce greening of the agar upon exposure to air.
BBEØ: no growth
Fluorescentie/Woodslamp chartreuse / yellow-green
-
the following information is not yet verified
-
Characteristics
-
References
James Versalovic et al.(2011) Manual of Clinical Microbiology 10th Edition
Karen C. Carrol et al (2019) Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 12th Edition Wadsworth-KTL, Anaerobic Bacteriology Manual, sixth edition, Hannele R. Jousimies-Somer, etc
Microbiology on the go. An initiative by
Dept. Medical Microbiology and Infectious diseases