Infection

, Volume 13, Issue 4, pp 169–173 | Cite as

Aeromonas and plesiomonas as possible causes of diarrhoea

  • Å. Ljungh
  • T. Wadström
Review
Received:
Accepted:

Summary

The number of reports on the isolation ofAeromonas from patients with diarrhoeal disease is now large and suggests an etiological role of the bacterium. It is well established that strains ofAeromonas produce an enterotoxin. This enterotoxin is cytotonic, i.e. it does not damage the membrane, and it does not cross-react immunologically with cholera toxin andEscherichia coli heat-labile (LT) toxin. Most enterotoxigenic strains also produce a cytotoxic protein (hemolysin), the role of which is probably limited in diarrhoea but potentially toxic in humans in other kinds of infections. Strains ofPlesiomonas shigelloides also seem to be able to cause diarrhoea in some cases. The pathogenesis ofPlesiomonas-induced diarrhoea remains to be elucidated, but a heat-stable enterotoxin may be involved.

Keywords

Public Health Internal Medicine Infectious Disease General Practice Family Medicine 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Aeromonas und Plesiomonas als mögliche Erreger einer Diarrhöe

Zusammenfassung

Über Isolationen vonAeromonas von Patienten mit Durchfallerkrankungen liegen inzwischen zahlreiche Publikationen vor; es ist daher anzunehmen, daß dieses Bacterium bei der Diarrhöe eine ätiologische Rolle spielt. Es ist gesichert, daß einigeAeromonas-Stämme ein Enterotoxin bilden. Dieses Enterotoxin hat zytotonische Wirkung, d. h. es schädigt nicht die Zellmembran; zwischen diesem Enterotoxin und Choleratoxin oder dem hitzelabilen Toxin vonEscherichia coli besteht keine immunologische Kreuzreaktion. Die meisten enterotoxinbildenden Stämme bilden auch ein zytotoxisches Protein (Hämolysin), das bei Diarrhöe möglicherweise nur eine begrenzte Rolle spielt, bei anderen Infektionen beim Menschen jedoch toxisch wirken kann. Auch Stämme vonPlesiomonas shigelloides scheinen für manche Fälle von Diarrhöe verantwortlich zu sein. Die Aufklärung der Pathogenese der durchPlesiomonas bedingten Diarrhöe steht noch bevor, doch ist möglich, daß ein hitzestabiles Enterotoxin beteiligt ist.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Literature

  1. 1.
    Popoff, M., Véron, M. A taxonomic study of theAeromonas hydrophila-Aeromonas punctata group. J. Gen. Microbiol. 94 (1976) 11–22.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Gray, S. J. Aeromonas hydrophila in livestock: Incidence, biochemical characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility. J. Hyg. Camb. 92 (1984) 365–375.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    von Graevenitz, A. Aeromonas andPlesiomonas. In:Lennette, E. H., Balows, A., Hausler Jr., W. J., Truant, J. P. (eds.): Manual of clinical microbiology. American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C. 1980, pp. 220–225.Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Ljungh, Å., Wadström, T. Toxins ofVibrio parahaemolyticus andAeromonas hydrophila. J. Toxicol. 1 (1982) 257–302.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Gracey, M., Burke, V., Robinson, J. Aeromonas-associated gastroenteritis. Lancet II (1982) 1304–1306.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Lautrop, H. Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from human faeces and its possible pathological significance. Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. 51, Suppl. 144 (1961) 299–301.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Echeverria, P., Blacklow, N. R., Sanford, L. B., Cukor, G. G. A study of travelers' diarrhea among American Peace Corps volunteers in rural Thailand. J. Infect. Dis. 143 (1981) 767–771.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Pitarangsi, C., Echeverria, P., Ehitmire, R., Tirapat, C., Formal, S., Dammin, G. J., Tingtalapong, M. Enteropathogenicity ofAeromonas hydrophila andPlesiomonas shigelloides — prevalence among individuals with and without diarrhea in Thailand. Infect. Immun. 35 (1982) 666–673.Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Schubert, R. H. W. Zur Ökologie vonPlesiomonas shigelloides. Zbl. Bakt. Hyg. I. Abt. Orig. B. 172 (1981) 528–533.Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Arai, T., Ikejima, N., Itoh, T., Sakai, S., Shimada, T., Sakazaki, R. A survey ofPlesiomonas shigelloides from aquatic environments, domestic animals, pets and humans. J. Hyg. Camb. 84 (1980) 203–211.Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Vandepitte, J., Makulu, A., Gatti, F. Plesiomonas shigelloides. Survey and possible association with diarrhoea in Zaire. Ann. Soc. Belge Med. Trop. 54 (1974) 503–513.Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Sanyal, S. C., Singh, S. J., Sen, P. C. Enteropathogenicity ofAeromonas hydrophila andPlesiomonas shigelloides. J. Med. Microbiol. 8 (1975) 195–198.Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Sanyal, S. C., Sarswathi, B., Sharma, P. Enteropathogenicity ofPlesiomonas shigelloides. J. Med. Microbiol. 13 (1980) 401–409.Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Penn, R. G., Giger, D. K., Knoop, F. C., Preheim, L. C. Plesiomonas shigelloides overgrowth in the small intestine. J. Clin. Microbiol. 15 (1982) 869–872.Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Tsukamoto, T., Kinoshita, Y., Shimada, T., Sakazaki, R. Two epidemics of diarrhoeal disease possibly caused byPlesiomonas shigelloides. J. Hyg. 80 (1978) 275–280.Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Rutala, W. A., Sarubbi Jr., F. A., Finch, C. S., McCormack, J. N., Steinkraus, G. E. Oyster-associated outbreak of diarrhoeal disease possibly caused byPlesiomonas shigelloides. Lancet I (1982) 739.Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    von Graevenitz, A., Bucher, C. Evaluation of differential and selective media for isolation ofAeromonas andPlesiomonas spp. from human feces. J. Clin. Microbiol. 17 (1983) 16–21.Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Millership, S. E., Chattopadhyay, B. Methods for the isolation ofAeromonas hydrophila andPlesiomonas shigelloides from faeces. J. Hyg. 92 (1984) 145–152.Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    von Graevenitz, A., Zinterhofer, L. The detection ofAeromonas hydrophila in stool specimens. Health Lab. Sci. 7 (1970) 124–127.Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Shread, P., Donovan, T. J., Lee, J. V. A survey of the incidenceAeromonas in human faeces. Soc. Gen. Microbiol. Q. 8 (1981) 184.Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    Rahman, S. A. F., Willoughby, J. M. T. Dysentery-like syndrome associated withAeromonas hydrophila. Br. Med. J. 281 (1980) 976.Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    Baman, S. I. Aeromonas hydrophila as the etiological agent in severe gastroenteritis: Report of a case. Am. J. Med. Technol. 46 (1980) 179–181.Google Scholar
  23. 23.
    Kipperman, H., Ephros, M., Lambdin, M., White-Rogers, K. Aeromonas hydrophila: A treatable cause of diarrhea. Pediatrics 73 (1984) 253–254.Google Scholar
  24. 24.
    Mandal, B. K., Whale, K., Morson, B. C. Acute colitis due toPlesiomonas shigelloides. Br. Med. J. 285 (1982) 1539–1540.Google Scholar
  25. 25.
    Caselitz, F. H. Pseudomonas-Aeromonas und ihre humanmedizinische Bedeutung. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena 1966.Google Scholar
  26. 26.
    Wadström, T., Ljungh, Å., Wretlind, B. Enterotoxin, haemolysin and cytotoxic protein inAeromonas hydrophila from human infections. Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. Sect. B 84 (1976) 112–114.Google Scholar
  27. 27.
    Ljungh, Å., Wretlind, B., Möllby, R. Separation and characterization of three extracellular toxins fromAeromonas hydrophila. Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. Sect. B 89 (1981) 387–397.Google Scholar
  28. 28.
    Boulanger, Y., Lallier, R., Cousineau, G. Isolation of an enterotoxigenicAeromonas from fish. Can. J. Microbiol. 238 (1977) 1161–1164.Google Scholar
  29. 29.
    Thelestam, M., Ljungh, Å Membrane damaging and cytotoxic effects on human fibroblasts by the two hemolysins fromAeromonas hydrophila. Infect. Immun. 34 (1981) 949–957.Google Scholar
  30. 30.
    Howard, S. P., Buckley, J. T. Membrane glycoprotein receptor and hole forming properties of a cytolytic protein toxin. Biochemistry 21 (1982) 1662–1667.Google Scholar
  31. 31.
    Ljungh, Å., Kronevi, T. Aeromonas hydrophila toxins — Intestinal fluid accumulation and mucosal injury in animal models. Toxicon 20 (1982) 297–402.Google Scholar
  32. 32.
    Ljungh, Å., Eneroth, P., Wadström, T. Steroid secretion in adrenal Y1 cells exposed toAeromonas hydrophila. Toxicon 20 (1982) 787–794.Google Scholar
  33. 33.
    Miwatani, T., Takeda, Y. Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A causative bacterium of food poisoning. Saikon Publications, Tokyo 1976.Google Scholar
  34. 34.
    Seidler, R. J., Allen, D. A., Lockman, H., Colwell, R. R., Joseph, S. W., Daily, O. P. Isolation, enumeration and characterization ofAeromonas from polluted waters encountered in diving operations. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 39 (1980) 1010–1018.Google Scholar
  35. 35.
    Burke, V., Robinson, J., Berry, R. J., Gracey, M. Detection of enterotoxins ofAeromonas hydrophila by a suckling mouse test. J. Med. Microbiol. 14 (1981) 401–408.Google Scholar
  36. 36.
    Janda, J. M., Bottone, C. V., Skinner, C. V., Calcaterra, D. Phenotypic markers associated with gastrointestinalAeromonas hydrophila isolated from symptomatic children. J. Clin. Microbiol. 17 (1983) 588–591.Google Scholar
  37. 37.
    Turnbull, P. C. B., Lee, J. V., Miliotis, M. D., Van de Walls, S., Koornhof, H. J., Jeffery, L., Bryant, T. N. Enterotoxin production in relation to taxonomic grouping and source of isolation ofAeromonas species. J. Clin. Microbiol. 19 (1984) 175–180.Google Scholar
  38. 38.
    Annapurna, E., Sanyal, S. C. Enterotoxicity ofAeromonas hydrophila. J. Med. Microbiol. 10 (1977) 317–323.Google Scholar
  39. 39.
    Dobrescu, L. EnterotoxigenicAeromonas hydrophila from a case of piglet diarrhoea. Zentbl. Vet. Med. B 25 (1978) 713–718.Google Scholar
  40. 40.
    Dubey, R. S., Sanyal, S. C., Malhotra, O. P. Purification ofAeromonas hydrophila enterotoxin and its mode of action in an experimental model. In:Eaker, D., Wadström, T. (eds.): Animal, plant and microbial toxins. Proceedings of the International Symposium, Uppsala 1979, Pergamon Press, Oxford 1980, pp. 259–268.Google Scholar
  41. 41.
    Keusch, G. T., Donta, S. T. Classification of enterotoxins on the basis of activity in cell culture. J. Infect. Dis. 131 (1975) 58–63.Google Scholar
  42. 42.
    Cumberbatch, N., Gurwith, M. J., Langston, C., Sack, R. B., Brunton, J. L. Cytotoxic enterotoxin produced byAeromonas hydrophila: relationship of toxigenic isolates to diarrheal disease. Infect. Immun. 23 (1979) 289–237.Google Scholar
  43. 43.
    Donta, S. T., Haddow, A. D. Cytotoxic activity ofAeromonas hydrophila. Infect. Immun. 21 (1979) 989–993.Google Scholar
  44. 44.
    Hostacka, A., Ciznar, I., Korych, B., Karolcek, J. Toxic factors ofAeromonas hydrophila andPlesiomonas shigelloides. Zentbl. Bakt. Hyg., I. Abt. Orig. A 252 (1982) 525–534.Google Scholar
  45. 45.
    Chakraborty, T., Montenegro, M. A., Sanyal, S. C., Helmuth, R., Bulling, E., Timmis, K. N. Cloning of an enterotoxin gene fromAeromonas hydrophila provides conclusive evidence of a cytotonic enterotoxin. Infect. Immun. 46 (1984) 435–441.Google Scholar
  46. 46.
    Janossy, G., Tarjan, V. Enterotoxigenicity ofAeromonas strains in suckling mice. Acta Microbiol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 27 (1980) 63–69.Google Scholar
  47. 47.
    Champsaur, H., Andremont, A., Mathieu, D., Rottman, E. Auzepy, P. Cholera-like illness due toAeromonas sobria. J. Infect. Dis. 145 (1982) 248–254.Google Scholar
  48. 48.
    Kaper, J. B., Lockman, H., Colwell, R. R. Aeromonas hydrophila: Molecular characterization of environmental and nontoxigenic strains ofVibrio cholerae. Infect. Immun. 32 (1981) 661–668.Google Scholar
  49. 49.
    James, C., Dibley, M., Burke, V., Robinson, J., Gracey, M. Immunological cross-reactivity of enterotoxins ofAeromonas hydrophila and cholera toxin. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 47 (1982) 34–42.Google Scholar
  50. 50.
    Riddle, L. M., Graham, T. E., Amborski, R. L. Medium for the accumulation of extracellular hemolysin and protease byAeromonas hydrophila. Infect. Immun. 33 (1981) 728–733.Google Scholar
  51. 51.
    Buckley, J. T., Halasa, L. N., Lund, K. D., McIntyre, S. M. Purification and some properties of the hemolytic toxin aerolysin. Can. J. Biochem. 59 (1981) 430–435.Google Scholar
  52. 52.
    Allan, B. J., Stevenson, R. M. W. Extracellular virulence factors ofAeromonas hydrophila in fish infections. Can. J. Microbiol. 27 (1981) 1114–1122.Google Scholar
  53. 53.
    Hsu, T. C., Waltman, W. D., Shotts, E. B. Correlation of extracellular enzymatic activity and biochemical characteristics with regard to virulence ofAeromonas hydrophila. Dev. Biol. Stand. 49 (1981) 101–111.Google Scholar
  54. 54.
    Freer, J. H., Ellis, A., Wadström, T., Smyth, C. J. Occurrence of fimbriae among enterotoxigenic intestinal bacteria isolated from cases of human infantile diarrhoea. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 3 (1978) 277–281.Google Scholar
  55. 55.
    Atkinson, H. M., Trust, T. J. Hemagglutination properties and adherence ability ofAeromonas hydrophila. Infect. Immun. 27 (1980) 938–946.Google Scholar
  56. 56.
    Adams, D., Atkinson, H. M., Woods, W. H. Aeromonas hydrophila typing scheme based on patterns of agglutination with erythrocytes and yeast cells. J. Clin. Microbiol. 17 (1983) 422–427.Google Scholar
  57. 57.
    Levett, P. N., Daniel, R. R. Adhesion ofVibrios and aeromonads to isolated rabbit brush borders. J. Gen. Microbiol. 125 (1981) 167–172.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© MMV Medizin Verlag GmbH München 1985

Authors and Affiliations

  • Å. Ljungh
    • 1
  • T. Wadström
    • 2
  1. 1.Stockholm County Council Central Microbiological LaboratoryStockholm
  2. 2.Department of Veterinary Microbiology, BiomedicumUppsala

Personalised recommendations