Detection of Aeromonas hydrophila in water using PCR

Abstract

Aeromonas genus is considered an emerging pathogen in drinking water supplies as is evident from surveillance studies carried out in Punjab, India. This study proposes the detection of Aeromonas by a molecular method. A total of 544 isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila were isolated from 690 drinking water samples and were further characterized phenotypically and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using specific primers targeting a 685 base‐pair fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. Validation of the assay was done for all 544 biochemically characterized A. hydrophila isolates. At the assay time of 6 h, the PCR protocol showed reproducibility, specificity, and sensitivity, and proved to be an inexpensive alternative to conventional phenotypic assay, which has limitations (e.g., duration of incubation, antagonistic organism interference, lack of specificity, poor detection of viable but nonculturable microorganisms). The isolates showed multiple antibiotic resistances with a score > 0.5 on the multiple antibiotic resistance indexes. This may be ascribed as a potential human health hazard.