Detection of Aeromonas spp. by traditional and molecular methods from tap water in Baghdad City

Water borne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganism's viruses, bacteria, intestinal parasites and other harmful microorganisms, which are directly transmitted when contaminated fresh water is consumed.Most of enteritis cases caused by drinking contaminated water with pathogenic bacteria such as Aeromonas spp, determination of its virulence factors very important especially its ability to produce toxins.One thousand five hundred sixty seven water samples from different parts of Baghdad city were collected from the beginning of April 2010 till the end of December 2011, all samples were bacteriologically examined by traditional methods for detection of Total coliform and other pathogenic bacteria. Thirteen isolate of Aeromonasspp were isolated and tested for its pathogenicity and ability to toxin production in the mouse module, all environmental isolates induced fluid accumulation (FA ratio≥100) after 5 hours and cause histopathological effects after 24h of inoculation. Histopathological changes showed severe inflammation of the mucosa and submucosa in the small intestine with mild chronic inflammatory cells and shortanage of villi, mild degenerative of gastric mucosal glandular epithelial and slightly necrosis, massive necrosis of hepatic cells with infiltrate of chronic inflammatory cells in the liver section،while no effect appeared on kidney tissue. All isolated of A. hydrophila were analyzed for conventional PCR for detection of virulence factors using Fla and laf flagell in genes most of isolates gave positive results for boththese genes.