Fusobacterium necrophorum explained

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a species of bacteria responsible for Lemierre's syndrome. It has also been known to cause sinusitis, mastoiditis, and odontogenic infections. [1]

Biology

F. necrophorum is a rod-shaped species of Gram-negative bacteria. It is an obligate anaerobe and is a common inhabitant of the alimentary tract within humans and animals.[2]

Pathogenicity

F. necrophorum is responsible for 10% of acute sore throats,[3] 21% of recurrent sore throats[4] [5] and 23% of peritonsillar abscesses[6] with the remainder being caused by Group A streptococci or viruses. Other complications from F. necrophorum include meningitis, complicated by thrombosis of the internal jugular vein, thrombosis of the cerebral veins,[7] and infection of the urogenital and the gastrointestinal tracts.[8]

Although this infection is rare, researchers agree that 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.[9]

The above statistical analysis is dated, necessarily. A 2015 study of young adult students presenting to a single clinic in Alabama had F. necrophorum as the predominant causative organism for pharyngitis 21% of the time (and found in 9% of asymptomatic students).[10] In the same study, Group A Streptococcus was found in 10% of pharyngitis patients (1% of asymptomatic students).

Treatment

F. necrophorum infection (also called F-throat[11]) usually responds to treatment with augmentin or metronidazole, but penicillin treatment for persistent pharyngitis appears anecdotally to have a higher relapse rate, although the reasons are unclear.

Infection in animals

This bacterium has been found to be associated with the foot disease thrush in horses. Thrush is a common infection that occurs on the hoof of a horse, specifically in the region of the frog. F. necrophorum occurs naturally in the animal's environment, especially in wet, muddy, or unsanitary conditions, such as an unclean stall.[12] [13] Horses with deep clefts, or narrow or contracted heels are more at-risk to develop thrush.

F. necrophorum is also a cause for lameness in sheep. Its infection is commonly called scald or foot rot. It can last for several years on land used by either sheep or cattle, and is found on most land of this type throughout the world. Due to its survival length in these areas, it is unrealistic to try to remove it. Sheep most often get scald due to breakage or weakness of the skin surrounding the hoof. This can occur due to strong footbaths, sandy soils, mild frostbite, or prolongened waterlogging of a field, and results in denaturing of the skin between the cleats.[14]

F. necrophorum is the cause of necrotic laryngitis ("calf diphtheria")[15] and liver abscesses[16] in cattle.

See also Blain, an archaic disease of uncertain etiology.

Further reading

Machado. Vinícius Silva. Subcutaneous Immunization with Inactivated Bacterial Components and Purified Protein of Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Trueperella pyogenes Prevents Puerperal Metritis in Holstein Dairy Cows. PLOS ONE. 17 March 2014. 9. 3. e91734. 10.1371/journal.pone.0091734. 24638139. 3956715. 2014PLoSO...991734M . free.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Riordan . Terry . October 2007 . Human infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum (Necrobacillosis), with a focus on Lemierre's syndrome . Clinical Microbiology Reviews . 20 . 4 . 622–659 . 10.1128/CMR.00011-07 . 0893-8512 . 2176048 . 17934077.
  2. Tan . Z. L. . Nagaraja . T. G. . Chengappa . M. M. . March 1996 . Fusobacterium necrophorum infections: Virulence factors, pathogenic mechanism and control measures . Veterinary Research Communications . 20 . 2 . 113–140 . 10.1007/BF00385634. 8711893 . 23986751 .
  3. 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 . J Med Microbiol . 53 . 2004 . 1029 - 35 . 10.1099/jmm.0.45648-0 . 15358827 . Pt 10 . etal. free .
  4. Br J Biomed Sci . 2005 . 62 . 2 . 66 - 70 . Prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum and other upper respiratory tract pathogens isolated from throat swabs . Batty A, Wren MW . 15997879 . 10.1080/09674845.2005.11732687. 3564935 .
  5. J Infect . 2004 . 51 . 4 . 299 - 306 . 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 . 16051369 . 10.1016/j.jinf.2004.09.013.
  6. Klug TE, Rusan M, Fuursted K, Ovesen T . Clin Infect Dis. 2009. 49. 10. 1467 - 1472. 10.1086/644616. 19842975. Fusobacterium necrophorum: most prevalent pathogen in peritonsillar abscess in Denmark.. free.
  7. Pediatr Infect Dis J . 1997 . 16 . 3 . 330 - 331 . Fusobacterium necrophorum meningitis associated with cerebral vessel thrombosis. . Larsen PD, Chartrand SA, Adickes M . 9076827 . 10.1097/00006454-199703000-00017. free .
  8. Clin Infect Dis . 2000 . 31 . 2 . 524 - 532 . Human necrobacillosis, with emphasis on Lemierre's syndrome.. Hagelskjaer Kristensen L, Prag J . 10987717 . 10.1086/313970. free .
  9. J Med Microbiol . 2005 . 54 . 5 . 993 - 995 . Fusobacterium necrophorum infection associated with portal vein thrombosis.. Redford ML, Ellis R, Rees CJ . 16157556 . 10.1099/jmm.0.46080-0. free .
  10. Centor RM, Atkinson TP, Ratliff AE, Xiao L, Crabb DM, Estrada CA, Faircloth MB, Oestreich L, Hatchett J, Khalife W, Waites KB . The clinical presentation of Fusobacterium-positive and streptococcal-positive pharyngitis in a university health clinic: a cross-sectional study . Ann. Intern. Med. . 162 . 4 . 241–7 . February 2015 . 25686164 . 10.7326/M14-1305 . 40091134 .
  11. Web site: Sore Throat Misdiagnosis Could Kill Teenagers. The People's Pharmacy. 19 February 2015. 20 February 2015.
  12. Web site: The Lowdown on Thrush . Danvers Child . CJF . 7 May 2011 .
  13. Book: Ensminger, M. E. . Horses and Horsemanship: Animal Agriculture Series . Interstate Publishers . Danville, IL . 1990 . Sixth . 0-8134-2883-1. 62.
  14. Web site: Lameness in Sheep . . defra Gov.uk . https://web.archive.org/web/20081216223935/http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/pdf/sheeplameness.pdf . 16 December 2008 . dead .
  15. Web site: Necrotic Laryngitis in Cattle . Campbell. John . MSD Manual Veterinary Manual . Merck & Co .
  16. Web site: Liver Abscesses in Cattle. Foreman . Jonathan . MSD Manual Veterinary Manual . Merck & Co .

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