Aggregation of platelets by Fusobacterium necrophorum

Broth cultures and washed cells of 13 of 24 bovine isolates of Fusobacterium necrophorum aggregated human platelets in platelet-rich plasma. The cell-free culture fluid was inactive. Bacteria stored at 4 degrees C in saline remained active for at least 3 months, but they did not release activity into the storage solution. Aggregation typically began within 1 min after the addition of 10(3) bacteria to 10(3) platelets was complete within 5.5 min. Assays for cytosolic lactic dehydrogenase revealed that platelet lysis did not occur. The release of [14C]serotonin from platelets preincubated with this amine accompanied aggregation, indicating that this was a typical aggregation-degranulation reaction. Platelet aggregation was inhibited by EDTA (88% at 2.0 mM), aspirin (75% inhibition at 1.0 mM), and quinacrine (80% inhibition at 0.25 mM). Thus the reaction was an ion-dependent, cyclooxygenase-sensitive event. Gel-filtered platelets were less sensitive to aggregation than were platelets in plasma, but this sensitivity was fully restored by the addition of plasma and partially restored with fibrinogen. Biotyping of the cultures revealed that none of the avirulent, B-type strains of F. necrophorum could aggregate platelets, whereas 13 of 16 virulent A type strains were positive. These results suggest that platelet aggregation by F. necrophorum is related to the virulence of this organism.