- Fusobacterium
- A genus of bacteria (family Bacteroidaceae) containing Gram-negative, nonsporeforming, nonmotile, obligately anaerobic rods that produce butyric acid as a major metabolic product. These organisms are found in cavities of humans and other animals; some species are pathogenic. The type species is F. nucleatum. [L. fusus, a spindle, + bacterium]- F. mortiferum Sphaerophorus mortiferus; a bacterial species found in the gastrointestinal tract and associated with abdominal infections in humans.- F. necrophorum Sphaerophorus necrophorus; an unusually pleomorphic species causing or associated with several necrotic conditions in animals, such as calf diphtheria, labial necrosis of rabbits, necrotic rhinitis of pigs, foot rot of cattle, sheep, and goats, and occasionally necrotic lesions in humans. SYN: necrosis bacillus.- F. nucleatum a bacterial species (probably Plaut or Vincent bacillus) found in the mouth and in infections of the upper respiratory tract, pleural cavity, and occasionally the lower intestinal tract; it is the most common cause of human f. infection, and is the type species of the genus F..
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fu·so·bac·te·ri·um .fyü-zō-bak-'tir-ē-əm n1) cap a genus of gram-negative anaerobic strictly parasitic rod-shaped bacteria of the family Bacteroidaceae that include some pathogens occurring esp. in purulent or gangrenous infections* * *
n.a genus of Gram-negative rodlike bacteria with tapering ends. Most species are normal inhabitants of the mouth of animals and humans and produce no harmful effects, but anaerobic Fusobacterium species are associated with ulcerative gingivitis.* * *
Fu·so·bac·te·ri·um (fu″zo-bak-tērґe-əm) [L. fusus spindle +bacterium] a genus of gram-negative, anaerobic, nonsporulating bacteria of the family Fusobacteriaceae, consisting of slender cells with tapered ends. Some species are normal inhabitants of the body cavities of animals, and others are pathogenic. The type species is Fusobacterium nucleaґtum.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
