Adherence of Fusobacterium necrophorum to bovine ruminal cells.

The adherence of Fusobacterium necrophorum to the surface of bovine ruminal epithelial cells was paralleled by the organism's haemagglutinating ability. Treatment of the bacterial cells with haemagglutinin antiserum caused a reduction in the degree of attachment. The purified haemagglutinin became bound to the membranes of ruminal epithelial cells but lost its adherence when pre-incubated with haemagglutinin antiserum. These findings suggest that the adherence of F. necrophorum to the membrane of the ruminal cells is mediated by haemagglutinin.