Characterization of Aeromonas and Vibrio species isolated from a drinking water reservoir

Aims: To study the phenotypic and chemotaxonomic (i.e, phospholipid and cel lular fatty acid composition) characteristics of environmental Aeromonas sp p. and Vibrio spp. isolated from a drinking water reservoir near Vladivosto k City, and the application of some chemotaxonomic markers for discriminati on of the two genera and species. Methods and Results: Presumptive Aeromonas species were dominant in surface water samples (up to 25% of the total number of bacteria recovered). These strains were consistent with respect to the cultural and biochemical prope rties used to define the species Aeromonas sobria (seven strains) and Aer. popoffii (three strains). Vibrio mimicus (two strains) and Vibrio metschnik ovii (one strain) were identified according to phenotypic features and cell ular fatty acid composition. Conclusions: Environmental Aer. sobria isolates were atypical in their abil ity to grow at 42 degreesC, and were haemolytic, proteolytic and cytotoxic. Although it was present in a high proportion in the water samples, atypica l Aer. sobria is not an indicator of polluted water. Significance and Impact of the Study: The incidence of Aeromonas in the dri nking water reservoirs in the Far East of Russia is reported for the first time.