Fusobacterium polysaccharolyticum sp.nov., a gram-negative rod from the rumen that produces butyrate and ferments cellulose and starch.

A new Gram-negative, non-sporulating, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacterium capable of fermenting cellulose and starch was isolated from the rumens of sheep fed supplemented maize stover diets. The organism fermented few carbohydrates, showing a preference for polysaccharides. The main acid products of carbohydrate fermentation were butyrate and formate. Acetate was utilized.