Background/Objective: Fish is one of the most valuable food for human consumption. However, fish may also act as a source of foodborne pathogens including Aeromonas species which caused a serious threat to a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and virulence characteristics of Aeromonas species isolated from fish farms in Egypt.
Methods: A total of 100 random samples of freshwater fish represented by Nile tilapia and Mugil cephalus (50 of each) were collected from different fish farms in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate and examined bacteriologically and biochemically for the presence of Aeromonas species. Multiplex PCR was done to detect some virulence-associated genes in Aeromonas hydrophila isolates.
Results: The obtained results revealed that the incidence of Aeromonas species in Nile tilapia and Mugil cephalus were 32 (64%) and 25 (50%), respectively. The most prevalent Aeromonas species isolated from Nile tilapia were Aeromonas caviae 13 (40.6%), Aeromonas hydrophila 8 (25%), Aeromonas sobria 7 (21.9%), Aeromonas veronii 3 (9.4%), and Aeromonas fluvialis 1 (3.1%), while from fresh Mugil cephalus were Aeromonas sobria 11 (44%), Aeromonas caviae 7 (28%), Aeromonas hydrophila 5 (20%), and Aeromonas veronii 2 (8%). The isolated Aeromonas hydrophila concealed some virulence genes responsible for their pathogenicities such as aerolysin gene (aerA) and cytotonic enterotoxin gene (altA).
Conclusion: The hygienic measures should be applied to prevent fish contamination with Aeromonas species.