Incidence and virulence characteristics of Aeromonas spp. in Malaysian fish and shrimp

H. K. Kantilal,, . and J. S. Anandha Rao, . and Tan, Austin J. Y. (2025) Incidence and virulence characteristics of Aeromonas spp. in Malaysian fish and shrimp. International Food Research Journal (Malaysia), 32 (1). pp. 290-299. ISSN 2231 7546

A total of 86 samples from five species of aquaculture products including tilapias (Oreochromis mossambicus), red hybrid tilapias (Orechromis sp. × Orechromis sp.), walking catfishes (Clarias batrachus), common snakeheads (Channa striata), and whiteleg shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) were obtained from three local wet markets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Using the Aeromonas isolation agar, 72 Aeromonas isolates (83.7%) were identified; 43 A. veronii biovar sobria (50%), 21 A. hydrophila (24.4%), and eight A. caviae (9.3%). The 72 Aeromonas isolates were then subjected to haemolysis, proteolysis, and lipolysis tests to determine their virulence characteristics. All the Aeromonas isolates demonstrated haemolytic activity (100%); 57 isolates expressed beta-haemolytic activity (79.2%), while the remaining 15 expressed alpha-haemolytic activity (20.8%). Besides that, the Aeromonas isolates revealed proteolytic activity (100%), and only 57 of the isolates showed lipolytic activity (79.2%). The results demonstrated that Aeromonas spp. were present in various commercial aquaculture products in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The results from the virulence tests also showed that Aeromonas spp. possessed a variety of different virulence factors that may have aided in their pathogenesis of Aeromonasassociated diseases. The present work highlighted the importance of proper food handling practices and audited processes from fish farms to consumers to prevent the spread of foodborne pathogens, and the occurrence of Aeromonas-associated diseases in humans.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/32%20(01)%202025/22%20-...

Abstract

A total of 86 samples from five species of aquaculture products including tilapias (Oreochromis mossambicus), red hybrid tilapias (Orechromis sp. × Orechromis sp.), walking catfishes (Clarias batrachus), common snakeheads (Channa striata), and whiteleg shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) were obtained from three local wet markets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Using the Aeromonas isolation agar, 72 Aeromonas isolates (83.7%) were identified; 43 A. veronii biovar sobria (50%), 21 A. hydrophila (24.4%), and eight A. caviae (9.3%). The 72 Aeromonas isolates were then subjected to haemolysis, proteolysis, and lipolysis tests to determine their virulence characteristics. All the Aeromonas isolates demonstrated haemolytic activity (100%); 57 isolates expressed beta-haemolytic activity (79.2%), while the remaining 15 expressed alpha-haemolytic activity (20.8%). Besides that, the Aeromonas isolates revealed proteolytic activity (100%), and only 57 of the isolates showed lipolytic activity (79.2%). The results demonstrated that Aeromonas spp. were present in various commercial aquaculture products in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The results from the virulence tests also showed that Aeromonas spp. possessed a variety of different virulence factors that may have aided in their pathogenesis of Aeromonasassociated diseases. The present work highlighted the importance of proper food handling practices and audited processes from fish farms to consumers to prevent the spread of foodborne pathogens, and the occurrence of Aeromonas-associated diseases in humans.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	fish
AGROVOC Term:	shrimp culture
AGROVOC Term:	tilapia
AGROVOC Term:	aquaculture products
AGROVOC Term:	food handling
AGROVOC Term:	food safety
AGROVOC Term:	Aeromonas
AGROVOC Term:	Bacteria
AGROVOC Term:	lodging incidence
AGROVOC Term:	virulence
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	16 Mar 2026 04:02
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2026 04:02
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/25126

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