Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

VIRULENCE FACTORS IN AEROMONAS SPP. FROM ENVIRONMENTAL WATER SAMPLES IN NORTHERN THAILAND

Kannipa Tasanapak, Siriwat Kucharoenphaibu, Jintana Wongwigkarn, Kunsuda Nimanussornkul, Sutthirat Sitthisak and Plykaeow Chaibenjawong

Abstract

Aeromonas spp. are water-borne bacteria and are considered to be human pathogens. In this study we collected water samples from 129 sites in which we found 65 isolates identified as Aeromonas spp. with positive results from detection of the 16srDNA gene. All of these isolates were determined for virulence factors; act, ast, alt, ahpB, flaand lip genes were found in 21, 4, 11, 10, 15 and 6 isolates respectively. From the results of identified virulence factors, we found a significant relationship between lip and fla genes. Four virulence factors (act, ast, ahpB and fla) were found in one isolate from a puddle. This result shows that Aeromonas spp. and their virulence factors found in different aquatic environments might be the source of pathogenesis in living organisms, including humans, who consume the water.