Cytotoxic activity in environmental isolates of Aeromonas and Vibrio

Aeromonas and Vibrio non-O1 can be a cause of diarrhoea in humans. Their pathogenetic potential is supported by the presence, in some strains, of virulence and pathogenetic factors like haemolysin, cytotoxin, enterotoxin, adhesins. These bacteria are widely spread in the aquatic environment, and the epidemiological studies suggest that environment may be a source of human infection. Moreover, it has been reported that some environmental strains possess the factors involved in enteropathogenesis. We tested for cytotoxicity about 200 isolates from a one-year-long survey on the presence of Vibrionaceae in the aquatic environment in the Florentine region.