INCIDENCE OF NON-01 VIBRIO-CHOLERAE AND AEROMONAS SPP. IN FRESH-WATERIN ARARAQUARA, BRAZIL

The occurrence of Aeromonas spp., Vibrio cholerae, and Plesiomonas shi gelloides in fresh water from various sources in Araraquara, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil was determined. Samples from ten distinct irrigation systems used in vegetable cultivation, from five distinct streams, fr om two reservoirs, from one artificial lake, and from three distinct s prings were analyzed. All isolates were serotyped and tested for hemol ysin, cytotoxin, heat-stable (ST) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxins pr oduction; presence of plasmid; autoagglutination and drug resistance. V. cholerae isolates were also tested for cholera enterotoxin (CT) pro duction, and Aeromonas isolates for suicide phenomenon. No P. shigello ides was found. V. cholerae non 01 was found in five irrigation water samples and in three stream samples. Aeromonas sp. were isolated in tw o samples of irrigation water, in three streams, and in one reservoir. All the V. cholerae and Aeromonas isolates were positive for P-hemoly sin production, and all Aeromonas isolates were positive for suicide p henomenon; cytotoxic activities were observed in two Aeromonas strains . Cholera enterotoxin was not found in eight V. cholerae non-01 isolat es tested by the Y-1 mouse adrenal cell. All isolates were also negati ve for the other virulence markers. Ii cholelerae isolates were found to be sensitive to the majority of drugs tested, while Aeromonas strai ns presented multiple drug resistance..