GROWTH AND EXOTOXIN PRODUCTION AT LOW-TEMPERATURES BY AEROMONAS STRAINS IN MEAT SLURRIES

The ability of enterotoxigenic strains of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aer omonas sobria to produce exotoxins (haemolysin and enterotoxin) and ex oenzymes (protease and lipase), as well as their growth in meat slurri es stored at low temperatures (5 and 12 degrees C) was investigated. T he results showed that Aeromonas grew well in meat slurries stored at low temperatures in the presence of background flora. Exotoxins and ex oenzymes were not detected in filtrates from meat slurries inoculated with enterotoxigenic Aeromonas strains after 5 and 8 days incubation a t both incubation temperatures. The significance of the competitive gr owth of aeromonads in foods at refrigeration temperatures is discussed .