DIFFERENCES IN PRODUCTION OF SEVERAL EXTRACELLULAR VIRULENCE FACTORS IN CLINICAL AND FOOD AEROMONAS SPP STRAINS

Production of several extracellular virulence factors (lipase, proteas e and haemolysin) was compared in 15 Aeromonas spp. isolated from faec es of patients with Aeromonas-associated gastroenteritis and 81 strain s isolated from food. Strains from food did not show differences in pr oduction of these factors when compared with strains isolated from fae ces. However, if strains were considered in relation to autoagglutinat ion (AA) character, the AA(+) differed from AA(-) strains in lipase an d protease production. Supernatant fluids of AA(+) food and human stra ins showed 2.5-fold more protease production than that observed in AA( -) strains. These two characteristics of certain Aeromonas strains cou ld be related with the more virulent capacity.