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Introduction: Aeromonas are food- and water-borne bacteria that are considered to be zoonotic human pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the presence of genes associated with virulence in human and animal Aeromonas isolates and the potential role of animal isolates with regards to human Aeromonas infections. Methodology: The presence of aerA, hlyA, alt, ast, laf, ascF-G, stx1 and stx2 putative virulence genes in 40 human and animal Aeromonas isolates (16 human and 24 animal isolates) were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA fragments of expected sizes were purified and sequenced. BLAST in the NCBI was used to verify any amplified products. Results: PCR screening showed that hlyA, alt, and laf genes were determined at ratios of 6.25%, 50%, and 6.25%, respectively, in human isolates. The ratios of hlyA, alt, ascF-G, laf, stx2, and stx1 genes in animal isolates were 58.3%, 20.83%, 33.3%, 20.83%, 8.33%, and 4.17%, respectively. Neither aerA nor ast genes were detected in any isolates. Any one of eight putative virulence genes was not detected in seven human and eight animal isolates in the study. Conclusions: The current study is the first to investigate the presence of the virulence gene in gull Aeromonas isolates. The manifestation of the presence of the virulence gene and gene combinations was considerable, especially in fish and gull isolates when compared with clinical human isolates. The current study demonstrates the potential importance of fish and gulls in terms of human Aeromonas infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromonads infect human through potable water and causes various infections. Their existence in animal are being assessed as potential risk for human health. The aim of this study was to investigate clonal relationship among 52 Aeromonas strains isolated from human with diarrhea (14 strains), healthy food workers (2 strains), animals (24 strains) and drinking water (12 strains) by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). ClonaIrelation was determined between one diarrheic human isolate and one cattle isolate. No clonal relation was determined between drinking water and human isolates. Two fish isolates, A. caviae and A. sobria, were not distinguished PFGE patterns. Consequently no predominant clone was determined while clonal related strains were determined. Particularly, it is necessary to elicit the epidemiological importance of animals in respect of human Aeromonas infections and extensive studies are required for identification of environmental isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]