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The identification and human health significance of environmental aeromonads
Citation
Ashbolt, NJ and Ball, A and Dorsch, M and Turner, C and Cox, P and Chapman, A and Kirov, SM, The identification and human health significance of environmental aeromonads, Water Science and Technology, 31, (5-6) pp. 263-269. ISSN 0273-1223 (1995) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1016/0273-1223(95)00278-U
Abstract
Aeromonads readily grow in waters, particularly if nutrified, to concentrations in excess of total coliforms. Strains of aeromonads can cause gastroenteritis and tissue necrosis. Several suspected virulence factors, such as haemolysins, cytotoxins and enterotoxins may be involved in their pathogenesis. Amongst the thirteen recognised hybridisation groups of Aeromonas, only five species were identified by eight phenotypic characteristics from 339 strains isolated from marine, fresh river or storm waters or from tertiary and sewage/primary effluents. The majority of strains (50%) showed atypical phenotypes, and 24% of 208 randomly selected strains were not identified as aeromonads with a genus specific 16S rDNA-targeted PCR. Most discrepancies occurred with A. schubertii phenotypes, none of which were identified as aeromonads by PCR. Marine waters contained the largest proportion of atypical phenotypes (45/67) of which 60%, compared to <20% for other water sources, were not identified as aeromonads by PCR. A. hydrophila was generally the predominant species identified (93/339), although A. caviae was more prevalent in tertiary treated sewage effluents. Freshwaters contained the largest proportion of aeromonads with haemolysin and/or enterotoxin activity, whereas cytotoxin activity was more prevalent from stormwater isolates. Freshwater strains of A. veronii biotype sobria and A. hydrophila appeared to be the most toxigenic. Furthermore, river sites downstream of sewage effluent release contained more aeromonads than sites immediately upstream of the discharge. Hence, there was a clear positive correlation between freshwater eutrophication and the presence of potentially virulent aeromonads, the majority of which were A. hydrophila and A. veronii which can most rapidly and accurately be identified by PCR.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Medical Microbiology |
| Research Field: | Medical Bacteriology |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Other Health |
| Objective Field: | Health not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Kirov, SM (Associate Professor Sylvia Kirov) |
| ID Code: | 21153 |
| Year Published: | 1995 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 21 |
| Deposited By: | Pathology |
| Deposited On: | 1995-08-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2011-08-25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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