ARS | Publication request: ALLISONELLA HISTAMINIFORMANS, A NOVEL BACTERIUM THAT MAY PLAY A KEY ROLE IN RUMEN DISORDERS AND BOVINE LAMINITIS

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Alltech Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: May 27, 2003
Publication Date: May 27, 2003
Citation: RUSSELL, J.B., GARMER, M.R. ALLISONELLA HISTAMINIFORMANS, A NOVEL BACTERIUM THAT MAY PLAY A KEY ROLE IN RUMEN DISORDERS AND BOVINE LAMINITIS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ALLTECH SYMPOSIUM. 2003. P. 309-314.

Technical Abstract: The rumen has a previously unrecognized bacterium that produces histamine, A. histaminiformans. A. histaminiformans is a highly specialized bacterium that is only able to convert histidine to histamine. Because A. histaminiformans is a highly pH-resistant bacterium, it is better able to compete with other histidine-utilizing bacteria when the pH is low. A. histaminiformans could not be isolated from cattle fed hay, but it is found at high numbers in cattle fed dairy cattle rations. The ability of A. histaminiformans to grow in cattle fed dairy rations was explained differences in pH and a nutritional factor derived from silages (particularly alfalfa silage). The nutritional factor appears to be a small positively charged molecule, but further work will be needed to define more precisely its exact nature.