The occurrence of aerolysin-positive Aeromonas spp. and their cytotoxicity in Norwegian water sources.
J Appl Microbiol 2001;
90:797-802. [PMID:
11348441 DOI:
10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01309.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS
The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of Aeromonas spp. and their aerolysin status in Norwegian natural water sources.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Seventy-one samples from 33 Norwegian water sources were examined for the presence of Aeromonas spp. From most of the sample sites, the strains were isolated on blood-ampicillin-agar and Difco Aeromonas agar simultaneously. The majority of the samples (73/77) contained Aeromonas spp., with an average of 35-100 cfu 100 ml(-1). The highest counts were found in faecally-contaminated water. Using PCR, 445 isolates were screened for the presence of aerolysin, and 79% of them were found to be carriers of the aerolysin gene. A selection of the isolated strains was tested on Vero cell cultures and 83% of them showed cytotoxicity.
CONCLUSION
There is widespread occurrence of aerolysin-positive cytotoxic Aeromonas spp. in many different Norwegian natural waters, including drinking water sources.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY
The widespread occurrence of potentially-pathogenic Aeromonas spp. in the environment demands that these bacteria should not be ignored in drinking water supplies and in the food industry.
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