Effects of the collagenolytic cell wall component of Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. necrophorum on bovine hepatocytes

The effects of the collagenolytic cell wall component (CCWC) of Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. necrophorum on bovine hepatic cell and cytoskeletons were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that CCWC damaged the cell surfaces, forming tiny holes on the cell membranes. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profiles revealed that CCWC degraded bovine cytokeratin and vimentin and by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) method, it was shown that CCWC caused the deformation of hepatocellular vimentin. This suggested that CCWC contributes to bovine hepatic injury and it may be as important pathogenic factor in the development of bovine hepatic abscesses.