[Pathogenicity of Fusobacterium. Apropos of 2 cases]

Two cases of severe septico-pyohaemia due to Fusobacterium necrophorum are reported. Clinical data from human cases and experimental results from infections of laboratory animal with Fusobacterium necrophorum suggest: the important role of individual factors which enhance anaerobic growth (i.e. decrease of tissular redox potential); the involvement of thrombophlebitis with septic thrombi increasing the frequency of metastases; the early and long-lasting bacterial localisation in tissues, particularly in the liver where the proliferation of Fusobacterium necrophorum in Küpffer cells impairs macrophage function.