ABSTRACT
The genus Aeromonas comprises important human pathogens, gastroenteritis being the most common type of infection attributed to these bacteria. Considering their importance as foodborne pathogens, the occurrence of Aeromonas spp. was studied on bovine carcasses and the environment of a slaughterhouse in São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 285 samples were collected from 19 points. Direct counting was carried out by seeding on selective medium, with biochemical characterization of the species after selective enrichment and antimicrobial sensitivity testing. The direct count permitted bacteria quantification only in 12 samples ranging from 0.5 to 9.2 x 100 CFU/ cm2, of which 5 were from environment, ranging from 1.0 x 100 to 3.0 x 100 CFU/plate. However, after selective enrichment,Aeromonas spp. was isolated from 38 samples, which when added to the environmental samples not subjected to the enrichment provided 62 isolates for analysis. Biochemical characterization allowed for the verification of the occurrence of 59 isolates of A. caviae, 1 ofA. sobria, 1 ofA. trota and 1 ofA. schubertii. Antimicrobial testing revealed that all isolates were resistant to ampicillin and cephalotin, while the results for the other antimicrobials were variable. Resistance of all isolates to some antimicrobials indicates that these must be used carefully to avoid early development of multiresistantAeromonas spp. Also, the greatest prevalence of A. caviae must be considered relevant because it is one of the causative species of human gastroenteritis.
KEY WORDS
Aeromonas spp; antimicrobial sensitivity; bovine abattoir