Haemagglutination and haemolysis by oral Fusobacterium nucleatum

Haemagglutination and haemolytic activity of 80 Fusobacterium nucleatum iso lates from human and animal origin, on different human blood types was eval uated. All the isolates were able to agglutinate erythrocytes and the most were either alpha-haemolytic or beta-haemolytic. No specificity between hae molysin or haemagglutinin and blood type was observed. Haemagglutination ac tivity was inhibited when D-galactose, D-lactose or D-raffinose were used. Haemagglutination and haemolysis may be important factors in the pathogenes is of human and animal periodontal diseases.