Studies of Fusobacterium necrophorum from bovine hepatic abscesses: biotypes, quantitation, virulence, and antibiotic susceptibility.

Isolates of Fusobacterium necrophorum were obtained from 124 bovine hepatic abscesses (in 119 cattle) and from the ruminal contents of 12 cattle. Three biotypes (A, AB, and B) were found. Type A isolates were most common in hepatic abscesses, and type B isolates were most common in ruminal contents. Virulence studies in mice indicated that type A isolates were more pathogenic than types AB or B isolates. The difference in virulences between types A and B isolates was not related to the toxicity of the endotoxin. Results of serotesting (passive hemagglutination) showed that a wide heterogeneity existed between isolates. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics for 12 of the isolates (7 type A, 1 type AB, and 4 type B) were as follows: less than or equal to 0.06 IU of penicillin G/ml; less than or equal to 0.5 micrograms of cephaloridine/ml; less than or equal to 2 micrograms of chloramphenicol/ml; less than or equal to 0.06 micrograms of clindamycin/ml; less than or equal to 8 micrograms of erythromycin/ml; less than or equal to 128 micrograms of gentamicin/ml; less than or equal to 0.25 micrograms of oxytetracycline/ml; and less than or equal to 4 micrograms of tylosin/ml.