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Aeromonas as a human pathogen
Abstract:
Although the first Aeromonas strain was described by Zimmermann as early as in 1890, it took 60 years until Caselitz established human pathogenicity of strains then called "Vibrio jamaicensis". Since then, and especially in the last 10 years, there have been increasing numbers of reports on different infections caused by members of the genus Aeromonas. These include sepsis; meningitis; cellulitis; necrotizing fasciitis; ecthyma gangrenosum; pneumonia; peritonitis; conjunctivitis; corneal ulcer; endophthalmitis; osteomyelitis; suppurative arthritis; myositis; subphrenic abscess; liver abscess; cholecystitis and/or ascending cholangitis; urinary tract infection; endocarditis; ear, nose, and throat infections; balanitis; etc. The role of Aeromonas in gastrointestinal disease is very controversial. Increasing epidemiological data suggest that these organisms play a major role in enteric infections, but so far enteropathogenicity has not been demonstrable in experiments where volunteers were given high numbers of Aeromonas possessing different virulence factors. Virulence factors include hemolysin(s), enterotoxin(s), hemagglutinins, invasivity, and others; but these are not found more frequently in strains isolated from patients with diarrhea than from healthy controls. Whether there is a correlation between species and disease remains to be elucidated and requires more information about the taxonomy of this genus.
Insights
Aeromonas bacteria cause various infections, but their role in gastrointestinal disease remains controversial. Further research is needed to link specific species and virulence factors to human illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Aeromonas strains, first described in 1890, were later recognized for human pathogenicity.
- Reports of infections caused by Aeromonas have significantly increased in the last decade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the spectrum of human infections attributed to Aeromonas species.
- To discuss the controversial role of Aeromonas in gastrointestinal diseases.
- To highlight the need for further research into Aeromonas taxonomy and pathogenicity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of Aeromonas-related infections.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on gastrointestinal infections.
- Discussion of virulence factors and experimental evidence.
Main Results:
- Aeromonas are implicated in a wide range of infections including sepsis, meningitis, and various localized infections.
- The contribution of Aeromonas to enteric infections is suggested by epidemiological data but lacks experimental validation.
- Identified virulence factors are not consistently more prevalent in strains from diarrheal patients.
Conclusions:
- Aeromonas species are significant pathogens causing diverse human infections.
- The enteropathogenicity of Aeromonas remains unproven, despite epidemiological suggestions.
- Clarifying the taxonomy and species-disease correlation requires further investigation.