Actinobacillus

A genus of very small, nonmotile, nonsporeforming, aerobic, facultatively anaerobic bacteria containing Gram-negative rods interspersed with coccal elements. The metabolism of these bacteria is fermentative. They are pathogenic to animals. The type species is A. lignieresii. [actino- + L. bacillus, a little rod]

- A. actinomycetemcomitans a species of doubtful taxonomic position; frequently associated with human periodontal disease as well as subacute and chronic endocarditis; occurs with actinomycetes in actinomycotic lesions. SYN: Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans.

- A. lignieresii a species producing infections of the upper alimentary tract and mouth in cattle and swine (actinobacillosis) and suppurative lesions in the skin and lungs of sheep; it is the type species of its genus.

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ac·ti·no·ba·cil·lus -bə-'sil-əs n

1) cap a genus of aerobic gram-negative parasitic bacteria of the family Pasteurellaceae forming filaments resembling streptobacilli see ACTINOBACILLOSIS

2) pl -li -.ī a bacterium of the genus Actinobacillus

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n.

a genus of Gram-negative nonmotile aerobic bacteria that are characteristically spherical or rodlike in shape but occasionally grow into branching filaments. Actinobacilli cause disease in animals that can be transmitted to humans.

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Ac·ti·no·ba·cil·lus (ak″tĭ-no-bə-silґus) [actino- + bacillus] a genus of gram-negative, fermentative, nonmotile, coccoid or rod-shaped bacteria of the family Pasteurellaceae, part of the normal mammalian microflora. They are potentially pathogenic for humans and for cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs, causing granulomatous lesions.