Cytotoxic and haemagglutinating activities of motile Aeromonas species

Cytotoxic and haemagglutinating properties were determined in 114 Aeromonas strains isolated from various sites in slaughtered lambs and from processed lamb meat. Cytotoxic activity on Vero cells was observed in 48 (42%) of the strains. It was more common in A. sobria and A. hydrophila isolates than with A. caviae isolates. Haemagglutination (HA) activity was found frequently in motile aeromonads irrespective of species; it was present in 50% of A. sobria strains, 51% of A. hydrophila strains and 48% of A. caviae strains. HA was inhibited by fucose, galactose and mannose at low concentration and, in most cases, two or three of these sugars were inhibitory. A significant association was found between certain HA-inhibition patterns and the production of cytotoxin by Aeromonas spp.