What does this bacterium look like?
Actinobacillus is a small rod that occurs mainly alone or aggregated in pairs. This bacterium has a thin cell wall and is between 1 and 2 micrometers in size. This is very small when you know that 1,000 micrometers fit into one millimeter.
What does science already know about this bacterium?
Actinobacillus was first described in 1902 by Lingnières and Spitz during a study in animals. They named this organism Actinobacillus lingnieresii. In livestock, this genus of bacteria plays a major role in the outbreak of infections so it is still the subject of much research in veterinary medicine. In humans, this genus Actinobacillus is found almost everywhere in the body and the presence of this bacterium is generally quite harmless.
What is this bacterium doing in my mouth?
This bacterium is found in the saliva of all Isala participants. Some species of Actinobacillus have the potential to cause dental problems, but most of the time they are very important for a healthy mouth.
What is this bacterium doing on my skin?
This genus of bacteria normally has a hard time surviving on your skin; it is often too dry there. But because the skin around your mouth comes into regular contact with saliva, we can still find them there.
Does this bacterium occur elsewhere?
In humans, Actinobacillus is mainly found in the mouth and upper respiratory tract, but sometimes researchers also discover them in the vagina. In addition, these bacteria are mostly found in animals such as pigs and horses.