Detection of putative virulence genes in Aeromonas isolates from humans and animals.
BACKGROUND
Aeromonas are food- and water-borne bacteria that are considered to be zoonotic human pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the presence of genes associated with virulence in human and animal Aeromonas isolates and the potential role of animal isolates with regards to human Aeromonas infections.


METHODS
The presence of aerA, hlyA, alt, ast, laf, ascF-G, stx1 and stx2 putative virulence genes in 40 human and animal Aeromonas isolates (16 human and 24 animal isolates) were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA fragments of expected sizes were purified and sequenced. BLAST in the NCBI was used to verify any amplified products.


RESULTS
PCR screening showed that hlyA, alt, and laf genes were determined at ratios of 6.25%, 50%, and 6.25%, respectively, in human isolates. The ratios of hlyA, alt, ascF-G, laf, stx2, and stx1 genes in animal isolates were 58.3%, 20.83%, 33.3%, 20.83%, 8.33%, and 4.17%, respectively. Neither aerA nor ast genes were detected in any isolates. Any one of eight putative virulence genes was not detected in seven human and eight animal isolates in the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study is the first to investigate the presence of the virulence gene in gull Aeromonas isolates. The manifestation of the presence of the virulence gene and gene combinations was considerable, especially in fish and gull isolates when compared with clinical human isolates. The current study demonstrates the potential importance of fish and gulls in terms of human Aeromonas infections.
Muş Alparslan University, Muş, Turkey. hkorkoca@hotmail.com.
Hanifi
H
Körkoca
Yusuf
Y
Alan
Sedat
S
Bozari
Mustafa
M
Berktas
Yaşar
Y
Goz
D000333:Aeromonas / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005399:Fishes; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors