THE EFFECT OF AEROMONAS STRAINS ON THE GROWTH OF LEGIONELLA

Thirty-one environmental and two type strains of Aeromonas were tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of strains of several Legione lla species. Of 10 Legionella spp. tested, only Legionella pneumophila and Leg. longbeachae were able to resist the inhibitory effects of so me of the Aeromonas strains. Selected Aeromonas strains were also test ed for their ability to inhibit the growth of several non-legionella s trains. None of the non-legionella strains were inhibited by any of th e selected Aeromonas strains. Attempts were made to isolate Aeromonas strains from cooling towers and Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from one of the cooling towers tested. The results suggest that many strai ns of Aeromonas can inhibit the growth of Legionella strains on solid media and could affect the isolation of legionellas from water sources .