Fusobacterium necrophorum in ruminal contents and on the ruminal wall of cattle

Abstract

Fusobacterium necrophorum was quantified from ruminal contents and ruminal wall tissue collected at slaughter. Livers were examined and scored for abscesses. The mean concentration of F. necrophorum on the ruminal wall ranged from 2.9 × 103 to 6.1× 105 per cm2 . The dorsal sac had the lowest counts, and dorsal blind and ventral sacs had the highest counts of F. necrophorum adherent to the ruminal wall. The concentrations of F. necrophorum in ruminal contents and on the ruminal wall did not appear to be related to presence or absence of abscessed livers or to severity of abscesses.