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Abstract:
The ability of 15 Aeromonas sobria and 9 Aeromonas hydrophila isolates to cause subcutaneous lesions was tested. An inoculum of 10(11) colony forming units/l was injected subcutaneously into mice. Surviving animals developed a subcutaneous abscess and/or localised skin sloughing and loss of hair (alopecia). An abscess was induced by all nine A. hydrophila isolates and by three of the 15 A. sobria isolates. The induction of local epidermal sloughing and loss of hair followed challenge with either A. hydrophila or A. sobria and correlated with the organisms' lethality for mice and their cytotoxicity in the Y-I adrenal cell assay. Local epidermal sloughing was not induced by the media used for growing the organisms or by sonicated cells of the isolates. The ability to cause epidermal sloughing was lost by incubating viable cells at 45 degrees C for 35 minutes. These yet unreported in vivo features of Aeromonas sp. may be useful in studies of the pathogenicity of the species as well as for rapid assay of toxicity of strains.
Insights
Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas sobria can cause skin lesions in mice, including abscesses and hair loss. These findings aid in understanding Aeromonas pathogenicity and toxicity assays.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Veterinary Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Aeromonas species are known aquatic bacteria that can cause opportunistic infections in humans and animals.
- Understanding the specific mechanisms of Aeromonas pathogenicity is crucial for disease management and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capacity of Aeromonas sobria and Aeromonas hydrophila isolates to induce subcutaneous lesions in a murine model.
- To correlate observed in vivo lesions with bacterial cytotoxicity and lethality.
Main Methods:
- Subcutaneous injection of 10(11) colony-forming units/l of Aeromonas isolates into mice.
- Observation and documentation of induced subcutaneous lesions, including abscess formation, skin sloughing, and alopecia.
- Assessment of bacterial cytotoxicity using the Y-I adrenal cell assay.
Main Results:
- All nine Aeromonas hydrophila isolates and three of 15 Aeromonas sobria isolates induced subcutaneous abscesses.
- Both species caused local epidermal sloughing and alopecia, correlating with lethality and cytotoxicity.
- Epidermal sloughing was not induced by culture media or sonicated cells, and was abolished by heat treatment (45°C for 35 minutes).
Conclusions:
- Aeromonas sobria and Aeromonas hydrophila can induce specific subcutaneous lesions in mice, including abscesses, epidermal sloughing, and alopecia.
- These in vivo features are linked to bacterial virulence and cytotoxicity, offering potential for pathogenicity studies.
- The observed lesions provide novel insights into Aeromonas pathogenesis and may serve as a basis for rapid toxicity assays.