Survival ability of cytotoxic strains of motile Aeromonas spp. in different types of water

The ability of motile Aeromonas spp. to survive in drinking water (mineral and tap water) and in sea water was experimentally tested. Clinically isola ted cytotoxic strains of A. hydrophila, A. caviae and A. sobria were select ed for this study. After contamination of water samples, the survival of Ae romonas strains was studied for at least three months using viable counts. The results obtained show that the survival of the Aeromonas spp. varies co nsiderably depending on species and water type. For all three species, the survival time was longest in mineral water, where viable bacteria of each s train were still detected after 100 d. Moreover, A. hydrophila and A. cavia e also re-grew on the first day. In tap water all strains showed marked sur vival, although to a lesser extent than in mineral water. Aeromonas cells s howed a rapid decline in sea water (90% reduction in viable cells after abo ut two d) and thus seem to be more sensitive to saline/marine stress than c hlorination.