Abstract
Aeromonas inhabit diverse aquatic habitats and are recognized as both opportunistic and primary pathogens of fish and humans. This study delineates the biochemical and gyrB sequence-based molecular identification of 14 Aeromonas strains isolated from aquatic environments in Kerala, India, identifying them as A. dhakensis (50%), A. hydrophila (28.6%), and A. jandaei (21.4%). These strains exhibit a high prevalence of virulence genes (act, flaA, ser, gcat, lip, and ela) implicated in pathogenesis in both fish and humans. These findings underline the emergence of A. dhakensis, often misidentified as A. hydrophila, as a potential pathogen, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive identification methods. Significantly, all strains demonstrated beta-hemolysis and moderate to strong biofilm formation, enhancing their infectivity potential. Moreover, all isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, with a multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) index ranging from 0.39 to 0.56, and a significant presence of class 1 (500-1100bp) and class 2 (250-700bp) integrons, indicating their potential risk to both fish and human populations. Our results underscore the role of aquatic environment as a repository for virulent and multidrug-resistant Aeromonas spp., emphasizing the imperative for prudent antimicrobial usage and regular monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in these environments.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call