title: Aeromonas hydrophila subsp. dhakensis isolated from feces, water and fish in Mediterranean Spain.
abstract: Eight Aeromonas hydrophila-like arabinose-negative isolates from diverse sources (i.e., river freshwater, cooling-system water pond, diseased wild European eels, and human stools) sampled in Valencia (Spain) during 2004-2005, were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and extensive biochemical testing along with reference strains of most Aeromonas species. These isolates and all reference strains of A. hydrophila subsp. dhakensis and A. aquariorum showed a 16S rRNA sequence similarity of 99.8-100%, and they all shared an identical phenotype. This matched exactly with that of A. hydrophila subsp. dhakensis since all strains displayed positive responses to the Voges-Prokauer test and to the use of dl-lactate. This is the first report of A. hydrophila subsp. dhakensis recovered from environmental samples, and further, from its original isolation in India during 1993-1994. This was accurately identified and segregated from other clinical aeromonads (A. hydrophila subsp. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. veronii biovars veronii and sobria, A. trota, A. schubertii and A. jandaei) by using biochemical key tests. The API 20 E profile for all strains included in A. hydrophila subsp. dhakensis was 7047125. The prevalence of this species in Spanish sources was higher for water (9.4%) than for feces (6%) or eels (1.3%). Isolates recovered as pure cultures from diseased eels were moderately virulent (LD(50) of 3.3×10(6) CFU fish(-1)) to challenged eels in experimental trials. They were all resistant to ticarcillin, amoxicillin-clavuranic acid, cefoxitin, and imipenem, regardless of its source. Our data point to A. hydrophila subsp. dhakensis as an emerging pathogen for humans and fish in temperate countries.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. estevem@uv.es
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alcaide
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Blasco
mesh_terms: D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005399:Fishes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010641:Phenotype; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013030:Spain; D013982:Ticarcillin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002440:Cefoxitin; D015378:Imipenem; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D013982:Ticarcillin