CYTOTOXIC AND HEMAGGLUTINATING ACTIVITIES OF MOTILE AEROMONAS SPECIES

Cytotoxic and haemagglutinating properties were determined in 114 Aero monas strains isolated from various sites in slaughtered lambs and fro m processed lamb meat. Cytotoxic activity on Vero cells was observed i n 48 (42 %) of the strains. It was more common in A. sobria and A. hyd rophila isolates than with A. caviae isolates. Haemagglutination (HA) activity was found frequently in motile aeromonads irrespective of spe cies; it was present in 50 % of A. sobria strains, 51 % of A. hydrophi la 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 f ound between certain HA-inhibition patterns and the production of cyto toxin by Aeromonas spp.